Victoria, B.C.: The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation is proud to announce over $8.5 million in funding for 178 fish and wildlife conservation and conservation stewardship projects across B.C. this year, with over $850,000 allocated to projects in the West Coast region.

For over 40 years, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) has provided funding for conservation projects throughout B.C. Projects are led by a range of partners including community groups, rod and gun clubs, non-government environmental organizations, First Nations and Indigenous-led organizations, and the British Columbia government. Since 1981, the HCTF has funded over 3,800 projects, representing an investment of over $232 million for conservation in the province.

 Photos left to right: Volunteers help remove invasive Reed canary grass and plant native species on Blackburn Lake; Volunteers weed paths, and remove tent caterpillars from Garry oaks in the Salt Spring Island Conservancy’s Garry Oak Demonstration Ecosystem at Blackburn Lake Nature Reserve; At Blackburn Lake Nature Reserve, workshop participants learn land stewardship in a time of climate change. 
Photo credit: Salt Spring Island Conservancy.

Among this year’s projects in the West Coast region is a multi-year project, co-funded by the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), working to protect and enhance wildlife habitat on Salt Spring Island. Through several conservation strategies such as the acquisition of ecologically valuable lands, engagement with private landowners, restoration of habitat areas, and supporting the growth of native species, the Salt Spring Island Conservancy aims to employ climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for the long-term conservation of wildlife habitat. All of the strategies incorporate public outreach: “This project increases conservation awareness through presentations, workshops, brochures, and signage,” said project leader Penny Barnes. “Conservation awareness is a tangible first step towards habitat protection.”

Steve Kozuki, executive director of FESBC said, “HCTF has some of the best expertise in wildlife biology and habitat management. That’s why FESBC is so pleased to collaborate with HCTF. Together we have improved wildlife habitat on numerous successful projects all around British Columbia. And we will continue to endeavour to assist wildlife to thrive and flourish for generations to come.”

The project is being supported by HCTF and FESBC, with $48,795 in co-funding this year.

“In the forested landscape, many non-government organizations such as the Salt Spring Island Conservancy work with landowners in their communities to increase knowledge about their local ecosystems and transform that information into community actions that protect and enhance wildlife habitat,” said Dan Buffett, CEO of HCTF. “As funders, FESBC and HCTF are excited to support our local project leaders, who deliver these projects and create better outcomes for our fish, wildlife, and their habitats.”

Other HCTF-funded projects taking place on the West Coast include:

  • $91,500 to restore the wetland habitat of a former sawmill site in the heart of the salmonid migratory corridor for the watersheds of two major rivers, the Puntledge and the Tsolum.
  • $50,000 to share cultural teachings and ways of knowing about Xpey’ (Western red cedar) to inspire region-wide cultural restoration and protection activities.
  • $52,810 for the Vancouver Island Small Lake Enrichment Program, adding nutrients and modifying angling regulations to support kokanee salmon and rainbow trout stock.
  • $9,700 for the restoration of vital tidal marsh habitats in Craigflower Estuary through eco-cultural fencing: the creation of tidal channels and replenishing marsh banks.
  • $100,000 to restore habitat in Xwaaqw’um on Salt Spring Island by creating new wetlands, repairing streams, and deactivating old logging roads.

Each project funded by HCTF undergoes a multi-level, objective, and technical review process prior to final Board review and decision. HCTF’s Board of Directors ensures that species important to B.C. anglers and hunters are supported but also places a great deal of importance on conserving whole ecosystems, species-at-risk, and investing in environmental education across the province.

The FESBC-HCTF partnership exemplifies how collaborative efforts can lead to significant environmental and community benefits. As the two organizations look toward the future, the lessons learned from this partnership will continue to guide efforts in forest and wildlife habitat management.

To read more about these projects, visit www.hctf.ca.  

FESBC would like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Forests.