Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) is providing over $1.2 million in funding towards eight conservation projects in the Skeena region.
The funding come from the foundation's model of a surcharge on hunting, fishing, trapping and guide outfitting licenses.
"Each year, the conservation surcharge from these contributors funds over one hundred fish, wildlife, and habitat projects above and beyond government funding," said Dan Buffett, CEO of HCTF, a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving B.C. natural diversity of wildlife and habitats.
鈥淵et, we recognize that government funding, such as the Together for Wildlife Strategy, along with funding from partners, First Nations and other organizations and individuals, remains crucial to meet the shared goals to conserve and enhance B.C.'s fish, wildlife and their habitats," continued Buffet.
鈥淥ur government has been working alongside First Nations, conservation organizations and other key partners for many years to help protect and restore important ecosystems throughout this beautiful province,鈥� said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. 鈥淚t is deeply rewarding to see the ongoing progress of this crucial work, which is improving the lives of British Columbians today and will continue to benefit future generations."
Restoring whitebark pine ecosystems
This is the 13th year of a multi-partner restoration program to restore whitebark pine ecosystems for subalpine bear habitats in the region.
The $68,224 in funding for this year will go towards:
- Planting 50-65,000 seedlings;
- Engaging with collaborators to increase the supply of seedlings;
- Seed collection from known rust-resistant trees;
- Contributing seed to blister rust-resistant screening and tree orchard programs;
- Monitoring two sites to assess success 15 years after planting
- Collaborating with provincial, federal and First Nation partners in capturing wildlife use and habitat values of whitebark pine ecosystems;
- Increasing the exposure and outreach of the restoration program;
- Serving as a hub for whitebark pine information and action in northern BC.
Quality waters strategy
$155,500 will go towards fishery development and planning activities on the Bulkley, Kispoix and Morice Rivers.
The project will also include a review of angler effort targets and assessing the feasibility of lottery booking systems.
Stock assessment activities will happen as well on the Bulkley, Skeena and Kitwanga Rivers.
Atlin east sheep movement monitoring and baseline health assessment
The Province of B.C. and the Taku River Tlingit First Nations have partnered to better understand taw茅i 鈥� the Tlingit word for thinhorn sheep 鈥� and how they use their habitat, migrate and the state of their overall health.
HCTF are providing $17,933 towards the project, which will take place near Atlin in northern B.C.
This project will also clarify the potential effects of a proposed hydro dam and opportunities for habitat enhancement. It will build on existing traditional and Western scientific knowledge on the Atlin east herd to better manage taw茅i in the future.
Telkwa caribou road restoration
Approximately 100 kilometres of road will be restored through this project, to which HCTF is contributing $278,557 over the course of three years under the foundation's Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund (CHRF).
The project will reduce interactions with predators, reduce habitat availability and access for alternate prey, and increase intact caribou habitat in mature-old forests into the future.
Skeena collaborative field monitoring
HCTF is providing $97,000 for a multi-year collaborative project dedicated to building, maintaining and improving a region-wide multi-species wildlife habitat tool.
This tool will be used to identify, enhance and protect high-quality areas for key wildlife species and plants that are culturally significant. These species and plants include moose, grizzly bears and huckleberries.
The insights from the tool will helped inform wildlife decisions and land-use planning for the region.
Three projects for Tweedsmuir鈥揈ntiako caribou
The HCTF is contributing to three projects that will benefit the Tweedsmuir鈥揈ntiako caribou herd.
The first is $276,091 towards restoring 100-160 kilometres of road and fire guard linear features in the high-value, low-elevation winter forest range. The goal is to increase intact caribou habitat and reduce predator-prey interactions through decreasing access for humans and predators.
The funding will be distributed over the course of three years through the foundation's CHRF.
The next project is also related to road restoration, but this time within the Whitesail Priority Restoration Area. Approximately 86 kilometres of roads will be restored with $262,650, decreasing road density and creating 7,716 hectares of near-contiguous, low-elevation summer habitat from the shoreline of Whitesail Reach to the intact no-harvest areas.
Also within the Whitesail area, Porkchop Island is the highest-use caribou calving island on the Whitesail reach portion of the Nechako Reservoir. $62,000 will go towards restoring the shoreline of the island, removing woody debris from 11 hectares of it.
