Caribou

Thank you to everyone who submitted an application prior to the November 1st deadline. Applications are currently being reviewed and applicants will be informed of funding decisions in mid-March 2020. Your next opportunity to apply for a CHRF grant will be fall of 2020.

The Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund (CHRF) is managed by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for the purpose of restoring high-value habitat for caribou in BC using functional and ecological restoration methods. The CHRF is made possible by a contribution from the Province of BC.

Who can apply for funding from the CHRF?

Any individual or organization capable of restoring habitat for caribou in British Columbia. In order to maximize the benefits for caribou using the funds available, the Province has identified priority herds and developed guidelines for selecting restoration areas and activities that will benefit these herds.

How much money can an application request?

There is no upper limit to the amount of money an application can request, however, keep in mind that HCTF’s goal is to allocate this money to habitat restoration projects that, in aggregate, will provide the maximum benefit to caribou. Priority will be given to projects that secure significant partner contributions (cash and in-kind).

Which herd ranges will be prioritized for restoration funding?

The Province of BC requires a coordinated and strategic approach to restoring caribou habitat. The Province has identified high and medium priority herd ranges for caribou habitat restoration proposals submitted for the 2020-21 funding cycle. In determining high and medium priorities for restoration, the province considered the following factors: herd status, current population and trend, level of industrial exploration and development, other recovery actions already occurring within the range (e.g. habitat protection), existing government direction (e.g., existing strategic or tactical plan that identifies restoration as a priority). Applicants are encouraged to focus proposals in high-priority herds to maximize benefits to caribou and caribou habitat.

High-Priority Caribou Ranges

For this application cycle, the high-priority ranges for restoration work are:

• Barkerville
• Central Selkirks (Nakusp and Duncan)
• Chinchaga
• Columbia North
• Itcha-Ilgachuz
• Maxhamish
• Moberly (Klinse-Za) and Scott
• North Cariboo
• Quintette
• Snake-Sahtahneh
• Tweedsmuir – Entiako
• Wells Gray North
• Wells Gray South

Medium-Priority Caribou Ranges

For this application cycle, the medium-priority ranges for restoration work are:

• Columbia South
• Frisby-Boulder
• Graham
• Groundhog
• Kennedy Siding
• Narraway
• Pink Mountain

Restoration work in any other herd ranges is considered to be a lower priority for this funding cycle.

Which areas within these herd ranges should be prioritized for restoration?

High-use* and high-value caribou areas: areas used by caribou where development has resulted in increased use of the area by primary prey and their predators (overlap with telemetry/observed caribou locations, including knowledge of habitat use patterns based on TEK or telemetry data).

• Focus on areas that will improve core habitat, are adjacent to intact habitat or where another caribou habitat restoration project is planned. This will help create large contiguous areas of caribou habitat with minimal disturbance.
• Focus on areas already under some form of habitat protection.
• Focus on areas of high predation risk: movement corridors or known overlaps with predators in historical caribou refuge areas (e.g. peatlands or areas adjacent to peatlands).
• Focus on areas with low potential future industrial and recreational disturbance (areas with low tenure activity and low potential for future disturbance). It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine land status and constraints (e.g. overlapping tenures) and engage with affected stakeholders and Indigenous Nations.
• Focus on areas accessible for restoration.
• Focus on areas where a coordinated access management plan has been developed or is underway.
• Focus on sites that are available for treatment (i.e. not under active disposition or provincial designation, such as a designated recreational trail) and that are not permanent disturbance features.
• Focus on sites that are unlikely to regenerate naturally without intervention.

*Telemetry, census, observational data, Traditional Ecological Knowledge

What type of restoration projects within these areas will be prioritized for funding?

For this funding cycle, priority will be given to functional restoration projects that will reduce the use of linear features by predators and people so as to reduce caribou mortality in the short term. Ecological restoration is important to meet the long-term goals at many sites and can be done in conjunction with functional restoration.

• Focus on the functional restoration of roads or other linear features adjacent or leading to areas of intact, high-value caribou habitat.
• Focus on treating disturbance features where natural vegetation recovery is not occurring, or is limited, with the treatment focused on the site-specific limiting factor.
• Focus on reducing the suitability of matrix habitat for primary prey such as planting or treating areas with high shrub production.

Please ensure you have reviewed the Eligible Activities List and understand the activities that are eligible for funding under this program.

CHRF Eligible Activities List

Additional Considerations

• Proposed activities must not be part of an existing statutory/legal obligation.
• Implementation of proposed treatments should not result in additional habitat disturbance.
• Mitigation must be undertaken to minimize the environmental impact of treatments, such as archaeological resources, watercourse crossings, minimizing impacts on other Species at Risk, etc. It is the proponent’s responsibility to ensure appropriate permitting is in place.
• Collaboration between the applicant and the affected regions (i.e. biologist contacts) must occur (concept to delivery) when the proposed project spans regional boundaries.
• The Province is currently developing an Operational Framework for Woodland Caribou habitat restoration in British Columbia to provide guidance for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of caribou habitat restoration initiatives in BC. The Framework will provide a comprehensive approach for restoration efforts to support those who may be involved in the implementation and monitoring of habitat restoration. The framework is not yet complete, but the Province has created an interim summary document with information relevant proponents submitting applications for CHRF funding this cycle. Please review this document prior to beginning your application.

Summary – Operational Framework for Caribou Habitat Restoration

Discussion with Regional Caribou Biologist

As part of the CHRF application process (see “Application” tab), applicants must discuss their project with the government caribou biologist for the region where the project will take place. Their contact details are available in the table below. These individuals will be able to (1) confirm whether caribou restoration plans are available within the region to further inform proposals, and (2) to confirm the caribou, predator and other region-specific information.

Currently Funded CHRF Projects

• Currently Funded Project List

  The first public intake for caribou habitat restoration proposals seeking CHRF funding closed on January 11th, 2019. Eleven projects were approved for funding, including:

  Kotcho Lake Restoration Area (Project #6-284)

  • • Project led by the Fort Nelson First Nation Lands Office
    • Northeast region (approximately 80 km northeast of Fort Nelson)
    • This project is designed to benefit the Snake-Sahtahneh caribou herd by limiting predator use of legacy seismic lines and using revegetation to increase habitat suitability for caribou.
    • Approved for $257,950.
    • For more information, contact Katherine Capot-Blanc, Fort Nelson First Nation Lands Office
      Email capotblanc@fnnation.ca Phone: 250-774-6313

  Tweedsmuir‐Entiako Caribou Lichen Restoration Area (Project #6-284)

  • • Project led by the Society for Ecological Restoration in Northern British Columbia (SERNbc)
    • Skeena Region (100 km south of Burns Lake)
    • This project is designed to benefit the Tweedsmuir‐Entiako caribou herd by seeding lichen fragments over 50 ha in areas impacted by Chelaslie
    • Approved for $79,719
    • For more information, contact Marc Steynen, SERNbc
      Email Steynen@sernbc.ca Phone: 250-643-3433

  Caribou Flats (Project #7-531)

  • • Project led by Chu Cho Environmental LLP
    • Omineca Region (165 km south west of Tsay Keh Dene)
    • This project is designed to benefit the Chase caribou herd by restoring 10 km of forestry roads using functional and ecological restoration techniques.
    • Approved for $182,295
    • For more information, contact Sean Rapai, Chu Cho Environmental LLP.
      Email Sean@chuchoenvironmental.com Phone: 226-203-0703

  Clisbako Caribou Rehabilitation Project (Project #5-317)

  • • Project led by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MFLNRORD)
    • Cariboo Region (20 km from the community of Kluskus )
    • This project is designed to benefit Itcha-Ilgachuz caribou herd by rehabilitating roads to reduce predator travel efficiency.
    • Approved for $38,400
    • For more information, contact Christine Unghy, MFLNRORD
      Email Christine.unghy@gov.bc.ca Phone: 250-991-7274

  • Whitesail Reach (Project #6-282)

  • • Project led by the Society for Ecological Restoration in Northern British Columbia (SERNbc)
    • Skeena Region (80 km south of Houston)
    • This project is designed to benefit Tweedsmuir‐Entiako herd by clearing debris from the shore line of calving islands on Whitesail Lake.
    • Approved for $55,000
    • For more information, contact Marc Steynen, SERNbc
      Email Steynen@sernbc.ca Phone: 250-643-3433

  • Amoco Road Restoration (Project #7-528)

  • • Project led by the Nîkanêse Wah tzee Stewardship Society
    • North East Region (56 km west of Chetwynd)
    • Approved for $98,841
    • This project is designed to benefit the Moberly (Klinse-Za) and Scott caribou herds using functional restoration treatments on a road built for oil and gas exploration.

  • Ulkatcho (Project #5-318)

  • • Project led by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MFLNRORD)
    • Cariboo Region (~30 km south east of Anahim Lake)
    • Designed to benefit the Itcha-Ilgachuz herd by rehabilitating roads to deter predator movement.
    • Approved for $82,782
    • For more information, contact Ayrilee McCoubrey, MFLNRORD
      Email Ayrilee.McCoubrey@gov.bc.ca Phone: 250-398-4574

  • Black Creek/Pickell Creek Area (Project #7-526)

  • • Project led by Blueberry River First Nation
    • North East Region (140 km north of Fort St. John)
    • This project is designed to benefit the Chinchaga caribou herd by restoring legacy seismic lines.
    • Approved for $184,730
    • For more information, contact Jane Calvert, Blueberry River First Nations
      Email jcalvert@blueberryfn.ca Phone: 250-630-2584

  • Adams Groundhog Road Rehabilitation & Reforestation (Project #3-422)

  • • Project led by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development
    • Thompson Region (Upper Adams River Valley)
    • This project is designed to benefit the Groundhog caribou herd through forestry road rehabilitation and treatment of cutblocks.
    • Approved for $123,100
    • For more information, contact Doug Lewis, MFLNRORD
      Email w.lewis@gov.bc.ca Phone: 250-371-6245

  Otter (Project #7-530)

  • • Project led by Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
    • Omineca Region (NE of Prince George)
    • This project is designed to benefit the Hart Ranges caribou herd by rehabilitating approximately 6 km of road, restoring connectivity between two areas of intact habitat.
    • Approved for $42,960
    • For more information, contact Kari Stuart-Smith, Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
      Email stuart-smith@canfor.com Phone: 250-426-9380

  Tumuch (Project #7-534)

  • • Project led by Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
    • Omineca Region (SE of Prince George)
    • This project is designed to benefit the North Cariboo caribou herdthrough the rehabilitation of over 12 km of road.
    • Approved for $88,430
    • For more information, contact Kari Stuart-Smith, Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
      Email kari.stuart-smith@canfor.com Phone: 250-426-9380

   

Questions? Please contact Shannon West.

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