Happy Holidays! - Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation

Our Blog

Thu, 24 Dec 2015

Happy Holidays!

Season’s greetings from all of us at HCTF.

Our office will be closed from December 25th through Janury 3rd – we look forward to working with you again in 2016!

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HCTF is proud to support @naturetrustbc in securing Nighthawk Hill Grasslands, conserving biological diversity, and protecting crucial wildlife habitat. The new Nighthawk Hill Grasslands conservation area, located directly beside the South Okanagan Grasslands Provincial Protected Area, bridges the crucial link needed for wildlife to access almost 100 meters of the Similkameen River safely and undisturbed in this very arid landscape, even during the hot Interior summer. The area is home to a diverse range of Species at Risk, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. From the American badger to pallid bat, to the tiger salamander and sage thrasher, a wide array of wildlife find refuge in this unique landscape. More than just a beautiful place, this new conservation area contains temperate grasslands – one of the most altered terrestrial ecosystems on earth and endangered on most continents. Rare and endangered big sagebrush and bluebunch wheatgrass ecological communities are prominent throughout the Nighthawk Hill Grasslands—bunchgrass ecosystems being some of the rarest land cover types in B.C. Through partnerships with local communities and partners, this acquisition protects more grassland habitat for many creatures using this land and the adjacent South Okanagan Grasslands Provincial Protected Area; this is a great achievement for habitat conservation in the region.

Did you know that Great Blue Herons can stand over a meter tall and have a wingspan of nearly two meters? These graceful birds are a staple in BC’s wetlands, estuaries, and coastal areas, where they hunt fish and amphibians with incredible patience and precision. Great blue herons are a conservation priority as their nesting habitats are increasingly under threat due to urban development and habitat loss. 🐦🌊 Through the conservation efforts of HCTF-funded projects, we work to protect BC’s vital wetland habitats, preserving spaces where species like the Great Blue Heron can thrive. Supporting heron habitats is just one way we’re committed to safeguarding BC’s biodiversity for the future. Learn more about how you can help! 📸 Brent Wellander

📢 Scholarship Spotlight: Tessa Rehill 📢 Tessa is one of this year's Al Martin Fellowship Scholarship Recipients! Tessa’s study is investigating urchin distribution and control methods to help revive threatened kelp forest ecosystems in BC. In the underwater seascapes of the North Pacific, kelp forests serve as critical habitats for a diversity of marine life, including important fish, like salmon and herring. Tessa’s study aims to map urchin distributions and test different strategies to mitigate herbivory to achieve targeted and enhanced kelp forest restoration and conservation. The Al Martin HCTF Conservation Fellowship supports graduate students aspiring to careers in fish or wildlife conservation and management in British Columbia.

River otters are natural swimmers, spending much of their time in the water and using their webbed feet and powerful tails to glide gracefully through BC’s rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. These playful creatures are more than just charming to watch—they play a key role in maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems. 🦦✨ 📸 Adam Wang

Good news for stewardship grant applicants! We know finding the right grant to apply for can be tricky, so we've decided to host a short webinar covering the various stewardship-related grants - Action (formerly Stewardship), Capacity, and Community Grants - offered by HCTF. If you think any of these grants may be of interest to you or your organization the webinar will be hosted on Tuesday, November 26th from 1:30 - 3:30 PST Can't make it that day? No problem! We will record and post the webinar to our YouTube channel so that it's available to as many people as possible. We're working to make our granting process as easier because every project funded, large or small, contributes to a bright future for the environment in BC for generations to come. Please note that intake for all 3 grants will be earlier this year, opening mid-January with an application deadline of February 28th, 2025. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dqp3yaN1TuKYGxt3bA_acg

Conservation impacts us all! Each project funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation shapes a more resilient, abundant future for all British Columbians. From protecting endangered species to restoring vital habitats, every effort builds a legacy of thriving ecosystems and sustainable environments. Together, our community can make a powerful impact. Learn more and get involved today! 📸 @habitatacqtrust Project 1-771 #ConservationMatters #BCWildlife #HabitatRestoration #CommunityAction #GetInvolved #ResilientFuture #HCTF

Intake for our Fish & Wildlife and CHRF Grant are CLOSING TODAY! HCTF Fish & Wildlife (F&W) Grants are available to anyone (provincial or municipal governments, First Nations, academic institutions, non-government organizations, industry) in BC for projects that: 🌲 Focus on native freshwater fish, wildlife, and their habitats; 🌲 Have the potential to achieve a significant conservation outcome; 🌲 Align with our purposes as laid out in the Wildlife Act. One of HCTF's key priorities is supporting the enhancement and restoration of fish and wildlife habitats. As a result, we strongly encourage projects that include on-the-ground enhancement and restoration activities. The Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund (CHRF) for the 2025-2026 funding cycle aims to restore high-value habitat for caribou in British Columbia using functional and ecological restoration methods. Eligibility and Focus Open to any individual or organization capable of restoring caribou habitat in BC Priority given to projects benefiting identified priority herds Guided by provincial guidelines for selecting restoration areas and activities Application deadline: November 1, 2024, at 4:30 PM (PT) For more information visit our website (link in bio)

🎃🦇 Happy Halloween from HCTF! 🦇🎃 Halloween may only be one night, but bats bring treats to nature all year! Here’s to our pest-controlling, pollinating pals. 📸 Jared Hobbs #WildlifeConservation #HappyHalloween #ProtectBCWildlife #BatBenefits #ConservationCreatures