Closed
Habitat Acquisition Grants
Funding for habitat protection land acquisitions
Last Update: May 26, 2026
Funding available
Varies by project
Timeline
- Closing date : April 15, 2025
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Overview
HCTF funds land acquisitions that protect important habitat for British Columbia’s fish and wildlife. The program supports purchase costs and may also cover initial management costs or a property endowment contribution.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Timeline
- Closing date : April 15, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- British Columbia
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Environment
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Acquisition of private properties to protect habitat for fish and wildlife.
- Projects that maintain public access for fishing, hunting, and non-motorized recreation.
- Projects that conserve wetland or grassland habitat and improve landscape connectivity.
Documents Needed
- Acquisition proposal worksheet
- Acquisition proposal budget spreadsheet
- Completed property appraisal
- Signed purchase agreement
- Confirmation from other funding partners
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Land trusts
- Community organizations
- First Nations
Who is not eligible
- Provincial, regional, and municipal governments
- Applicants seeking to finance debt recovery or pay off an existing mortgage
- Projects involving Crown or public land
- Projects based on conservation covenants
Eligible expenses
- Property purchase price
- Appraisal fees, taxes, and legal fees
- Initial management costs
- Property management endowment contribution
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Crown and public land, including trapping and guide outfitting tenures
- Conservation covenants
- Fundraising and acquisition coordination labour
- Post-acquisition legal fees and insurance costs
- Training, law enforcement, and stand-alone promotional or interpretive materials
Eligible geographic areas
- British Columbia, Canada
Selection criteria
- Public access for fishing, hunting, and non-motorized recreation
- Habitat significance, including wetland or grassland values and species richness
- Connectivity to protected or conservation areas
- Urgency of threat and protection value
- Financial strength, community support, and long-term stewardship potential
How to apply
- Step 1: Review program guidelines
- Read the Habitat Acquisition Proposal Guidelines.
- Contact HCTF staff before starting if needed.
- Step 2: Prepare application materials
- Complete the proposal worksheet.
- Prepare the proposal budget spreadsheet.
- Step 3: Submit online
- Submit the application through the HCTF Survey Apply system.
- Email submissions are not accepted.
- Step 4: Respond to follow-up requirements
- Provide any revised proposal or budget if project details change before Board review.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed by the HCTF Board in June.
- Successful applicants are notified in late July.
- Funding is conditional on meeting required funding conditions and signing a Conditional Grant Agreement.
- A final acquisition report is required before the holdback is released.
Additional information
- Applicants are encouraged to contact HCTF staff before starting an application.
- Successful applicants must sign a Conditional Grant Agreement.
- The support provided by HCTF must be acknowledged in project communications.
- Contract extensions may be available if the acquisition takes longer than planned.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Habitat Acquisition Grants Program
What is the Habitat Acquisition Grants?
HCTF funds land acquisitions that protect important habitat for British Columbia’s fish and wildlife. The program supports purchase costs and may also cover initial management costs or a property endowment contribution.
Who is eligible for the Habitat Acquisition Grants program?
To be eligible for the Habitat Acquisition Grants program, you must:
Land acquisition in British Columbia
Fee simple purchase only
Long-term habitat conservation
What expenses are eligible under Habitat Acquisition Grants?
Acquisition of private properties to protect habitat for fish and wildlife.
Projects that maintain public access for fishing, hunting, and non-motorized recreation.
Projects that conserve wetland or grassland habitat and improve landscape connectivity.
Who can I contact for more information about the Habitat Acquisition Grants?
You can contact Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF).
Where is the Habitat Acquisition Grants available?
The Habitat Acquisition Grants program is available the province of British Columbia.
Is the Habitat Acquisition Grants a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Habitat Acquisition Grants is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Habitat Acquisition Grants?
Habitat Acquisition Grants is funded by Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF)