Fort St. John, BC – The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) has announced over $9 million to fund more than 170 fish and wildlife projects in BC.

The announcement was made Friday at the BC Wildlife Federation’s annual convention in Fort St. John.

HCTF CEO Brian Springinotic said the $9 million represents a record annual investment in conservation projects by the Foundation, made possible in part by a contribution from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC. However, Springinotic says the majority of project funding comes from conservation surcharges on freshwater angling, hunting, guide outfitting and trapping licenses sold in BC.

“HCTF’s funding model is unique in channeling the users’ investment back to benefit the resource,” said Springinotic. “Anglers, hunters, guide outfitters and trappers fund much of the critical conservation work taking place in BC.”

Highlights of this year’s funded projects include:

• $250,000 to Ducks Unlimited Canada for its province-wide wetland conservation program.
• Over $600,000 for projects to conserve white sturgeon.
• Over $75,000 to the BC Conservation Foundation’s “Got Bats?” community outreach program delivered by local stewardship groups together with landowners to carry out a bat-count, detect and preserve bat habitat and install bat-houses.
• $80,000 to the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC for its province-wide “Learn to Fish” program which introduces over 25,000 youth and adults to the sport.
• Over $95,000 to UBC Okanagan’s Department of Biology to identify the effects of wildfire on mule deer habitat selection and population growth in the Boundary Region, West Okanagan, and Bonaparte Plateau areas, and to provide management tools and recommendations to increase mule deer abundance.
• $128,000 for fishery development and planning on the Bulkley, Kispiox and Morice Rivers, including reviews of angler effort targets and the feasibility of a lottery booking system for effective management, by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources and Rural Development.
• $22,000 to the “Bring Back the Bluebirds” project of the Cowichan Valley Naturalists’ Society.

 

“These projects have been selected through a competitive technical evaluation process to ensure the best benefit for each conservation dollar,” said Springinotic. “Projects support important species for anglers and hunters as well as benefiting whole ecosystems, species-at-risk and environmental education programs across the province.”

Approved projects are led by provincial government biologists, municipalities, universities, local land trusts, and First Nations.

You can view a complete list of 2019/20 grant recipients and projects below, as well as download region-specific lists.

HCTF 2019-20 Approved Project List — All Regions

HCTF Approved Projects Vancouver Island 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Lower Mainland 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Thompson Nicola 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Kootenay Region 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Cariboo Region 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Skeena Region 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Omineca Peace Region 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Okanagan Region 2019-20

 

You can also view the approximate locations of projects on our approved project map.

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For more information, contact:

Shannon West, Manager, Program Development, HCTF
250-940-9789
shannon.west@hctf.ca

 

 

Quick Facts:

• The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) began as an initiative of BC anglers, hunters, trappers and guide outfitters.
• Since 1981, HCTF has provided over $180 million in grants for more than 2600 conservation projects across BC.

Click on any of the photos below to open a larger version.