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 contributions from the Province of BC and Environment and Climate Change Canada.
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 of BC has identified priority herds and developed guidelines for selecting restoration areas and activities that will benefit these herds.
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). We encourage applicants to target a 0.5 to 1 funding match.
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.
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
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 2023-24 funding cycle. Please see the resources tab for an updated list of priority herds.
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).
*Telemetry, census, observational data, Traditional Ecological Knowledge
As part of the CHRF application process (see “Application” tab), applicants must discuss their project with the BC government caribou biologist for the region where the project will take place. Further information can be found on our resources page.
Proponent: Project led by the Nîkanêse Wah tzee Stewardship Society.
Region: Northeast Region (56 km west of Chetwynd, BC).
Description: This project in year 4 of 5 is designed to benefit the Moberly (Klinse-Za) and Scott caribou herds using restoration treatments on a road built for oil and gas exploration. This project has resulted in functional and ecological restoration of 1,136 ha of road, and this year the team will conduct post-treatment monitoring of treatment effectiveness.
Amount: Approved for $30,459 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by the Nîkanêse Wah tzee Stewardship Society.
Region: Omineca/Peace region approximately 65 km west of the community of Moberly Lake (72 km NW of Chetwynd, BC).
Description: This project is in year 2 of 5 and is being conducted within six meso watersheds (29,174 ha) within a newly protected, central part, of the Klinse-za/Scott East caribou herd area and will address ~156 kms of road, reducing average disturbance in the watersheds from 37% to 10%, adding ~7,865 ha of habitat, and contributing to a total ~16,322 ha of contiguous caribou range.
Amount: Approved for $235,555 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by the Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship.
Region: Skeena Region (60 km south of Burns Lake, BC).
Description: This project in year 3 of 5 will benefit the Tweedsmuir–Entiako caribou herd by using functional and ecological techniques to restore ~80 km of road and ~33 km of fire guard features in high-value low-elevation winter range with the goal of increasing intact caribou habitat and reducing predator-prey interactions through decreasing predator and human access.
Amount: Approved for $129,956 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by the Nîkanêse Wah tzee Stewardship Society.
Region: Omineca/Peace region approximately 54 km west of Chetwynd, BC.
Description: This project is in year 3 of 5 and has resulted in functional and ecological restoration of 1,287 ha of road in the Klinse-Za caribou herd area. In this project year the team will conduct post-treatment monitoring of treatment effectiveness.
Amount: Approved for $76,281 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by the Nîkanêse Wah tzee Stewardship Society.
Region: Omineca/Peace region approximately 54 km west of Chetwynd, BC.
Description: This project is in year 2 of 5 and will result in the functional and ecological restoration of approximately 16.3 km of linear corridors on two sites in the Clearwater Valley, resulting in restoration of 18% of the total disturbance at the meso-watershed scale.
Amount: Approved for $94,987 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by Chu Cho Environmental, Tsay Keh Dene Nation.
Region: Skeena Region approximately 90 km southwest of Tsay Keh Dene, 170 km northwest of Mackenzie, BC.
Description: In year 1 this project used functional and ecological restoration techniques to restore 16 km of road in the Chase herd caribou habitat range, and year 2 will continue monitoring road use and seedling survival over winter.
Amount: Approved for $54,993 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by Canfor and Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship.
Region: Skeena Region approximately 122 km south of Smithers, BC.
Description: This project is in year of 2 of 5 and will restore ~ 86 km of roads to reduce predator and human access within the Whitesail Priority Restoration Area for the Tweedsmuir-Entiako caribou herd, decreasing road density from 1.3 km/km2 to 0.08 km/km2 and creating 7,176 ha of near-contiguous low elevation summer habitat from the shoreline of Whitesail Reach to intact no-harvest areas.
Amount: Approved for $320,830 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by Yucwmenlucwu (Caretakers of the Land), Splatsin Development Corporation.
Region: Kootenay Region approximately 140 km north of Revelstoke, BC.
Description: The Upper Bigmouth Restoration project was initiated in 2017 with restoration of approximately 5.2 km of a 6.7 km linear feature. Restoration work was conducted in 2017 with subsequent ecological restoration conducted in 2019. Monitoring is on-going through use of motion cameras as well as through established long-term monitoring plots.
Amount: Approved for $36,381 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by Aski Reclamation LP, Saulteau First Nation.
Region: Omineca/Peace Region approximately 40 km southwest of Chetwynd, BC.
Description: A new project that will benefit Klinse-Za herd by functionally and ecologically restoring 40 kms of linear features to reduce predator, alternate prey and human movement from low elevation to high elevation core caribou habitat, along movement corridors and linear features in block roads within the B1 zone of the Klinse-za herd.
Amount: Approved for $110,000 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by Ulkatcho First Nation.
Region: Cariboo region approximately 47 km northwest of Anahim Lake, BC.
Description: This project will preserve and enhance habitat for the Itcha-Ilgachuz caribou herd as well as the Rainbows, Tweedsmuir, and Charlotte Alplands caribou herds through the restoration of five roads (approximately 20.6 km total) to reduce predator movement and prevent access by vehicles and equipment.
Amount: Approved for $219,220 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by Simpcw First Nation.
Region: Thompson Nicola region on the southeast boundary of Wells Grey Provincial Park, approximately 20 km southwest of Blue River, BC.
Description: In it’s first year, this project aims to increase cover habitat and minimize interactions between predator populations and human activities, by reducing linear site lines through road deactivation, rehabilitation as well as planting within priority overwintering range of the Wells Gray South herd.
Amount: Approved for $289,688 of CHRF funding.
The next intake for Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund (CHRF) grant applications will open in September 2023. The deadline to apply for 2024-25 funding is November 3, 2023 at 4:30pm (PT).
Please note: CHRF funding is specifically for projects actively restoring caribou habitat in BC. If you are seeking funding for another type of caribou project, please see our Enhancement and Restoration grant page or email chrf@hctf.ca for clarification.
Please read through all of the following information before beginning your application. Even if you’ve completed a CHRF application before, there are some changes to the process and forms for this cycle.
1) Ensure you’ve read and understand all of the information in the “Overview” tab.
2) Download the version of the 2022-23 CHRF Proposal Writing Instructions & Worksheet Word document that’s appropriate for your project.
Projects that have never received CHRF funding before should use the version for “New Projects“.
Projects that have received CHRF funding before should use the version for “Continuing Projects“.
Both types of projects will use the same form in the online application system, but will be presented with different question sets depending on whether they are “New” or “Continuing”.
You aren’t required to submit copies of the worksheets with your proposal and can compose your answers directly in the online form if you prefer. However, we do ask that you read all of the instructions in the Word documents as they provide additional detail to those provided in the online form.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to learn how your application will be assessed, and keep this in mind as you plan your proposal.
CHRF Proposal Writing Instructions & Worksheet for NEW projects
CHRF Proposal Writing Instructions & Worksheet for CONTINUING projects
3) Download the 2022-23 CHRF Activity & Budget Detail Spreadsheet, Instructions, and Sample.
The Excel spreadsheet is where you’ll provide details on your proposed activities for 2022-23, their expected outcomes, and the amount of money you are requesting from HCTF. Please review the instructions and sample document before filling out this spreadsheet. You will upload the completed spreadsheet in the online application system.
CHRF Activity & Budget Detail Spreadsheet
4) Read the Instructions for Preparing your Map, Shapefiles and Other Supporting Documents
As part of your application, you will need to submit a map and shapefile. Please download and review the instructions below.
Instructions for Maps, Shapefiles and Other Supporting Documents
5) Read our FAQs for instructions on using the online application system to submit your proposal.
6) Complete and submit your application using Survey Apply.
Please note that all applications must be submitted online using Survey Apply. HCTF cannot accept applications by email.
Applications received by the deadline will be evaluated by a technical review committee composed of caribou habitat restoration experts and the HCTF Board of Directors. Click the tab below to display a list of typical evaluation criteria considered in the review of CHRF applications.
The HCTF Board of Directors will review the recommendations of the technical review committee and make final funding decisions in March. Proponents will be notified about the status of their proposals shortly thereafter.
Conditional Grant Agreement
Proposed project activities can begin on April 1st of the year in which they are approved. If a proposal is approved subject to funding condition, that funding condition must be met prior to commencing any work. Note that HCTF funds multi-year projects one year at a time – if you would like funding for future years of a project, you must submit a continuing application each year.
Each fiscal year’s project activities must be complete by March 31st. Grant Reports are due annually on April 15th. Please note that your project final approval is subject to you (or your organization) entering into a Conditional Grant Agreement with HCTF.
You can preview the agreement template here. This year, HCTF has changed how we administer Conditional Grant Agreements. Approved non-government project leaders will need to log in to Survey Apply and follow these instructions for downloading, signing, and uploading their agreements and other documents.
Please read your Conditional Grant Agreement carefully, as HCTF has made significant changes to the agreement language this year. Ensure you obtain all internal approvals from your organization before returning the signed copy to HCTF. Questions? Please contact our Finance Officer.
Insurance Requirements: It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that your organization is carrying the correct insurance to deliver the project and to budget for your insurance costs accordingly in your proposal. Please note, project leaders are no longer required to provide HCTF with a Certificate of Insurance for General Liability (CGL).
Note that Provincial Government project leaders are not required to complete the Survey Apply steps above, as the Conditional Grant Agreement is signed directly with headquarters for each Ministry. Government project leaders can familiarize themselves with the requirements of the agreement at the link above and are also encouraged to request and review their specific agreement from headquarters.
Questions about the application process can be emailed to chrf@hctf.ca.
The next intake for Seed Grants within the Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund (CHRF) will open in September 2023. The deadline to apply for 2024-25 funding is November 3, 2023 at 4:30pm (PT).
Eligible activities for seed grants are restricted to those necessary to prepare a full CHRF proposal. For example, hiring a contractor with expertise in restoration of caribou habitat to help gather and prepare the information for a full application, or costs for some stakeholder engagement. We suggest referring to the “CHRF Proposal Writing Instructions & Worksheet for New Projects” on the “Apply” tab of the CHRF webpage to understand what a full application requires.
Applicants can request up to $10,000 for the development of a full, technically sound proposal for a new caribou habitat restoration project. The goal of this pilot is to help groups that have identified and want to restore anthropogenic disturbances in high-value caribou habitat, but require some assistance with preparing a full proposal that meets the technical requirements of a full CHRF grant proposal.
Ineligible Activities
Seed grants are for preparation of a full CHRF proposal. They are not for small habitat restoration projects. As such, any on-the-ground restoration or monitoring work is ineligible for seed funding. You can request funding for these activities by submitting a full CHRF application: see the “Apply” tab of the CHRF webpage for details.
Please note that the following activities are ineligible for funding in either seed or full CHRF proposals:
Step 1: Download the 2022-23 CHRF Instructions and Worksheet for Seed projects.
You aren’t required to submit copies of the worksheets with your proposal and can compose your answers directly in the online form if you prefer. However, we do ask that you read all of the instructions in the Word documents as they provide additional detail to those provided in the online form.
Step 2: Download and complete the 2022-23 CHRF Seed Grant Budget Detail Spreadsheet
The Excel spreadsheet is where you’ll provide details on your proposed activities for 2022-23 and the amount of money you are requesting from HCTF (up to a max of $10,000 for seed). Please review the instructions on the second tab in the budget workbook on how to fill out the partnership funding section before filling out the budget spreadsheet. You will upload the completed spreadsheet in the online application system.
CHRF Seed Grant Budget Spreadsheet
Step 3: Read the Instructions for Preparing your Map or Other Supporting Documents
As part of your application, you will need to submit a map and shapefile. Please download and review the instructions below.
Instructions for Maps and Other Supporting Documents
Step 4: Read our FAQs for instructions on using the online application system to submit your proposal.
Step 5: Complete and submit your application using Survey Apply.
Please note that all applications must be submitted online using Survey Apply. HCTF cannot accept applications by email.
The deadline for submitting your proposal is 4:30 PM PDT on Friday, November 4, 2022.
Questions about the application process can be emailed to chrf@hctf.ca.
As part of the CHRF application process (see “Application” tab), applicants must discuss their project with the BC government caribou biologist for the region where the project will take place. 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. A map image showing the regions in BC (utilized below) can be found here: BC LEH Regional Map.
Region | Government Biologist Name | Phone | |
North East | Scott Schilds | scott.schilds@gov.bc.ca | 250-261-2054 |
Skeena | Mark Wong | Mark.Wong@gov.bc.ca | 250-876-7106 |
Omineca | Barb Anderson | Barbara.Anderson@gov.bc.ca | 778-693-3202 |
Kootenays | Aaron Reid | Aaron.Reid@gov.bc.ca | 250-354-6392 |
Thompson-Okanagan | Bevan Ernst | Bevan.Ernst@gov.bc.ca | 250-371-6273 |
Cariboo-Chilcotin | Carolyn Shores | Carolyn.Shores@gov.bc.ca | 250-302-3507 |
Please Note: If you plan to conduct a habitat restoration project for the Quintette herd please contact the regional biologist in the North East for readily available resources related to treatment prescriptions.
The Province has developed 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. Please review this document prior to beginning an application.
HCTF has created a CHRF project monitoring guidance document for proponents to assist with planning this component of your project. This document has been updated for the 2022-24 cycle, including some changes to guidance around use of remote cameras for monitoring wildlife response, so please review even if you have read previous versions of the document.
The Province has published the Wildlife Camera Metadata Protocol, Standards for Components of British Columbia’s Biodiversity No. 44., September, 2019. The objective of this wildlife camera metadata protocol is to provide guidance on the types of data that should be collected when using remote cameras (sometimes also referred to as camera traps) to detect wildlife. The over-arching goal of the protocol is to support the creation of a consistent, consolidated wildlife camera dataset across British Columbia. This protocol does not provide specific guidance on wildlife camera monitoring or research designs.
October 2022 Restoration Monitoring Workshop (Zoom)
CHRF Monitoring Workshop Guidance Document
June 2022 Restoration Methods Workshop (Hybrid, Prince George, BC)
CHRF Restoration Methods Workshop Notes
In determining high and medium priorities for restoration, the Province considers the following factors: designatable unit, federal and BC listing, herd status, 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). For the 2023-24 funding cycle, applicants are required to focus on these high or medium priority herd ranges to maximize benefits to caribou and caribou habitat.
High-priority herds for habitat restoration projects:
Barkerville
Klinse-Za (Moberly) (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Narraway (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Narrow Lake
North Cariboo
Quintette (see Quintette Restoration Plan and South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Scott (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Telkwa (see Telkwa Tactical Restoration Plan)
Wells Gray North
Please Note: If you plan to conduct a habitat restoration project for the Quintette herd please contact the regional biologist for readily available resources related to treatment prescriptions.
Medium-priority herds for habitat restoration projects:
Burnt Pine (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Calendar
Central Selkirks (Nakusp and Duncan)
Charlotte Alplands
Chase
Chinchaga
Columbia North
Graham (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Groundhog
Hart Ranges
Itcha-Ilgachuz
Kennedy Siding
Maxhamish
Muskwa
Pink Mountain
Rainbows
Snake-Sahtahneh
Takla
Tweedsmuir – Entiako (see TEC Tactical Restoration Plan)
Wells Gray South
Westside (formally Prophet and Parker)
Wolverine
The next deadline for submitting grant reports is April 14th, 2023. All Project Leaders with approved grants from 2021-22 onward need to complete their grant reports in our online Survey Apply system. Reporting requirements remain relatively consistent from previous years with a new simplified and easy-to-use structure.
We encourage all Project Leaders to read the Reporting FAQs before beginning their reports.
Please email chrf@hctf.ca for assistance with questions not covered in the general reporting FAQs.
As a trust of public funds, HCTF has a number of requirements to ensure accountability and due diligence of trust funds. We have a responsibility to ensure that funds are invested in activities and projects that contribute to conservation of fish, wildlife, and habitat in BC. As a public foundation, HCTF is required to prepare annual financial statements which undergo a thorough audit process. Grant reports help ensure funds were utilized in accordance with the purposes of the trust, which is a requirement for HCTF’s audit.
Specifically, grant reports allow HCTF to evaluate:
Consistent with HCTF’s operating cycle and with the end date of most conditional grant agreements, projects must be completed by March 31st. Subsequent grant reports are due April 15th.
HCTF has recently launched a new online reporting system. All Project Leaders with approved 2021-22 grants onwards are required to submit their grant reports in Survey Apply, the same system that was used for proposal submission Reports in older formats or reports that come in by email submission will not be accepted.
Project Leaders with active projects from 2020-21 and prior (before Survey Apply was implemented) will submit using the previous report forms and processes. These Project Leaders (and those with approved contract extensions) will have received an email from HCTF with reporting instructions and forms. If you did not receive this email, or if you have any questions, please contact reporting@hctf.ca.
CHRF 2022-2023 Report Worksheet
Current grant reports for 2021-22 onward: Please note you now need to complete and submit the grant report form online (link to online system) and will need to upload the new separate excel budget spreadsheet with this online submission. Please utilize the template above as a worksheet to cut and paste answers into the Survey Apply system, if preferred.
Outstanding grant reports from before 2020-21: If you had a contract extension or still need to submit an outstanding report, please contact us at reporting@hctf.ca for a copy of the 2020-21 grant report template.
Individual report budget spreadsheets are emailed directly to proponents. These spreadsheets are to be filled in and uploaded in the online system, along with the grant report form. Please email chrf@hctf.ca if you have not received an email, or have any issues with the spreadsheet.
If you had a contract extension or an outstanding report from before 2020-21, please contact us if you need a copy of the previous report template.
Technical reports detailing methods, data collected, and results analysis are required for all CHRF projects. Ideally we would like to receive the annual technical report as an attachment at the time of the grant report submission by utilizing the “additional documents” upload function. But we understand annual technical reports may take more time to complete following the March 31, 2023 field end date, and so reports can also be emailed directly to chrf@hctf.ca within a reasonable time frame following the April 15th grant report deadline.
Some projects may produce information that will be published in a peer-review journal. These articles do not constitute a final report, but are of interest to HCTF. We recognize that published journal articles take time for publication. Please send us a PDF copy of the published article or a link to the article, once it is available.
Please note that your project’s final approval is subject to you (or you organization) entering into a Conditional Grant Agreement with HCTF. In the weeks following the receipt of your preliminary approval letter, you will be mailed two copies of a conditional grant agreement and an accompanying checklist. Please read your grant agreement carefully, and complete all requirements on the checklist before returning to HCTF. Questions? Please contact our Finance Officer.
Contract Extension Request – Form
Contract extensions are intended for projects where activities in the proposal could not be completed within the original timeframe. If you also have changes to your project objectives, budget or activities please submit a Project Change request form (see above).
If you are unable to complete your project within the fiscal year of your Conditional Grant Agreement (April 1 through March 31st, unless otherwise specified), you will need to request a Contract Extension to extend your Agreement into the next fiscal. The annual deadline for contract extension requests is February 15th. An email from the Finance Officer will be sent in early January with the Contract Extension Request Form and instructions to email the completed request to reporting@hctf.ca.
Please note that even though activities and expenditures will occur in the following fiscal year, they will still be invoiced and reported on under the original Agreement. The Grant Report (see Reporting Tab) will be due when that year’s activities are complete.
In some cases, a project may have a Contract Extension concurrently with another funded year of the project. HCTF requires that expenditures and project outcomes for each grant must always be tracked, invoiced and reported on separately. That also means that any unspent funds from one grant cannot be “rolled into” the project budget for a subsequent year.
For example, a multi-year project may receive a contract extension to complete Year 1 activities concurrent to activities already approved for Year 2. Each of these proposals is considered a separate contract. Therefore, you must report for each of them separately by completing a Grant Report for each of these project years, reporting against their respective proposals. That is, you would submit a Grant Report for Year 1, reporting against the Year 1 proposal; and another Grant Report for Year 2, reporting against the Year 2 proposal, even though the Year 1 activities took two years and happened at the same time as the Year 2 activities.
The support provided by HCTF and the Province of BC must be acknowledged in any publicity issued, printed or distributed, including signs, displays, reports, announcements, articles, press releases, or media interviews. Please include the following statement on any published materials:
“We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development”
Full information on HCTF communications guidelines and copies of the HCTF logo are available here.