FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HCTF is looking for projects that:

• focus on freshwater wild fish, native wildlife species and their habitats;
• have the potential to achieve a significant conservation outcome;
• best represent the interests of the trust Foundations's contributors, and
• maintain or enhance opportunities for fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing and associated outdoor recreational activities.

• Project proposals must be relevant to one or more of the Trust Foundation strategic objectives and consistent with any applicable provincial legislation, program policies, and the laws of Canada.
• Proponents must obtain statutory and regulatory approvals where required.
• Proposals for work on private lands will require the appropriate approvals, covenants, or agreements finalized prior to approval for funding.
• The Trust Foundation uses standard technical methodologies, classification and rating systems developed or recognized by the Resource Inventory Standards Committee and by the Ministry of Environment. Proposals may be subject to an independent technical review. Pertinent scientific literature and, for continuing projects, all project reports should be cited.
• There is no funding limit per project; however, projects requesting funds in excess of $150,000 per annum are viewed as special circumstances. As a guideline, the cost of project planning and monitoring for enhancement projects should not exceed 10% of the total cost of the project. Once approved, requests for changes in project budgets and/or activities will be considered only with full justification.
• Trust Foundation expenditures may be allocated to applied research and development proposals (proposals should help design or test a technique or application of technique); continuing costs of operation and maintenance of habitats, works or facilities; and planning for habitat protection.
• Proponents seeking funding for new or continuing projects are advised that regardless of the amount of funding requested, the amount of funding provided will depend on the total amount of funding available for projects, the ability of the project proposal to meet the Trust Foundation objectives, and past performance, including completion of required reports (for continuing programs).

The Trust Foundation receives many more proposals than there are funds available to support. Therefore, to reduce the number of proposals received, the Trust Foundation will not support the following activities:

General

• inventory for the ongoing management of fish and wildlife as required by the province
• projects that increase access, e.g., docks for fishing, road/trail building
• non-applied research, i.e., projects with no specific management need or application
• training costs for contractors/consultants
• providing training on guidelines
• mapping projects unless it can be demonstrated that the mapping information is essential to proceed with a Trust Foundation project or address a Trust Foundation priority
• general government enforcement activities
• generally, salaries for government employees

Fish and Fish Habitat

• fish rearing/hatcheries
• fish farming
• stocking of lakes
• salmon-only projects, i.e., projects focused solely on federally managed species
• mainly marine projects (some estuarine projects may be considered if estuaries are a limiting factor for freshwater species)

Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat

• control of native predators species
• winter feeding of wildlife
• captive breeding programs
• projects on individual plant species (projects involving plants will only be considered as related to fish, wildlife and their habitats)
• game farming
• rehabilitation centres

Information/Education/Stewardship

• fishing and hunting guides
• information on regulations, stocking programs
• tour guides
• interpretive services not related to a Trust Foundation project
• formal education (curriculum development)
• creation, management, maintenance of electronic databases
• production or sponsorship of commercial TV programs
• conferences (proceedings will be considered only if they contribute to Trust Foundation objectives)

The proposed activities of a project should be described in enough details to allow reviewers to assess the merit of the project by considering project effectiveness, feasibility, cost/benefit and biological benefit. Reviewers consider the following questions:

Criteria

Project Effectiveness (Efficacy)

• Is the project relevant to one or more of the Trust Foundation strategic objectives and is the project addressing an important conservation and/or enhancement/restoration issue?
• Would the differences be just as great without project implementation?
• Are the objectives/outcomes of the project (e.g., site changes, status reports, guidelines, species conservation, etc.) clearly defined?
• Is there an evaluation of project benefit (e.g., pre-treatment assessment or post-treatment sampling) or other measurables or indicators?
• Is there a clearly described extension component of the project (e.g., communicating results to resource managers, workshops presentations, etc.)?
• Does the project have adequate plans to communicate information gained?
• For public awareness, information, education projects, is the target audience identified? How will the information be distributed?

Feasibility

• Is the management problem clearly described to indicate the proponent understands the problem?
• Are the techniques/methods suggested the most appropriate.
• Are the proposed timelines reasonable to obtain the objectives?
• What are the credentials/expertise of the people who will be doing the project? Do the proponents have the capacity to deliver the project?
• If applicable, are plans in place to get appropriate permits or other authorizations?
• Are there any implications or effects on other associated species?
• Are there any factors/risks that might reduce the project's likelihood of success?
• Is there public support for the project, e.g., local rod and gun clubs, local naturalists' organizations?

Site Value (for Site-specific Projects)

• For conservation projects, is the site distinctive and/or important, i.e., does the ecosystem sustain species endemic to the site; how much of the ecosystem remains and how much does the site contribute to the amount remaining?
• For enhancement projects, is the site important for populations or, in the case of fish, does it have recreational value?
• Is the treatment of the site extensive enough to make a difference?
• What is the condition of the site, has it been extensively modified, thus reducing the ability to contribute to natural diversity, populations and/or recreational values?

Benefit/Cost

• Is there value for money of the project?
• Are the benefits as described in the proposal in line with the cost of the project?
• Are there enough deliverables for the cost of the project?
• Are the project budget and/or in-kind rates realistic?

Yes, though the Board makes a distinction between "multi-year" and "never-ending" projects. In general terms, projects longer than 4-5 years are not supported. Once approved in the initial year, multi-year projects are subject to annual resubmission and review as continuing projects; funding or program conditions may be applied by the Board as part of any approval.

Submit One (1) copy electronically as a word document to hctf@hctf.ca by November 2nd, 2009 4:30 p.m. PST. Please indicate in the subject line: 2010-2011 HCTF Enhancement Project Application. NO HARD COPIES OF PROPOSAL REQURIED. No late applications will be accepted.

You are welcome to submit Letters of Support (maximum 3 letters, 8 ½ X 11) with your proposal. These are due at the same time as your application. Letters of Support must indicate financial or in-kind support for the project not just general support, or “fan mail”.