A healthy environment is the foundation for a strong region. That’s why we partner with Basin residents and groups to help them develop and implement projects and initiatives that address environmental priorities. Our Environment Advisory Committee provides strategic advice to guide our support for environmental well-being in the Basin. Together, we work to conserve and enhance the natural assets of the region for the benefit of all.
What's New
Ecosystems and Species-At-Risk Habitat Enhanced April 29, 2021 - Endangered whitebark pine, pathways for pollinators, wetlands and habitats for swallows and bats will all benefit from new environmental conservation and restoration initiatives as part of Columbia Basin Trust’s Ecosystem Enhancement Program.
Regional Online Climate Science Resource Expands March 4, 2021 - Columbia Basin Climate Source website updated to inform and educate New environmental and climate data plus new digital tools are available on the Columbia Basin Climate Source website, www.basinclimatesource.ca. The website is a resource for Basin and Boundary communities to […]
Province partners with Columbia Basin Trust to reduce wildfire risks March 3, 2021 - The B.C. government is investing $2.4 million to complete wildfire risk reduction projects in the Columbia Basin as part of its economic recovery plan to create jobs and help communities recover from COVID-19 impacts. “Our government’s support of this program […]View all Environment articles.
Funding
- If you have an idea that will strengthen environmental well-being, our Environment Grants could help support it.
- If you have an idea that will maintain or enhance grassland resources while meeting conservation, environment and recreation objectives, our Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program could help support it.
- If your organization has a project idea that creates jobs related to wildfire risk reduction you may be eligible for the Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction Program – Columbia Basin Economic Recovery Initiative.
Other Support
- We support the Columbia Basin Climate Source, a source for people seeking easy-to-understand information on climate change specific to communities throughout the Columbia Basin and Boundary regions.
- We support four Environmental Education programs in the Basin.
- We support healthy, diverse and functioning ecosystems through the Ecosystem Enhancement Program, which uses a request for proposals process to identify and implement projects focused on enhancement, restoration and conservation.
- We help groups and organizations (including the Kootenay Conservation Program) conserve land to ensure that current and future generations can enjoy the Basin’s biological diversity and natural heritage.
- The Trust’s Land Acquisition Grants support local governments, First Nations communities and non-profit organizations to acquire lands for public purposes including recreational and cultural values. The program recognizes that land acquisition may include the purchase of either land, buildings or land-based infrastructure. For more information email landgrants@ourtrust.org.
- If you need support making your non-profit organization stronger, our Non-profit Advisors Program can help you increase capacity, become more sustainable and become more efficient.
- We support efforts to prevent and reduce invasive species across the Basin. We have given grants to various groups, for example, for projects that focus on invasive species. We have a partnership with regional invasive species organizations to address priority aquatic and terrestrial invasive species in the Basin. We’re also supporting the suppression of the invasion of northern pike in the Columbia River, a species that threatens native fish populations and the recovery of species at risk. And we are a funder and partner in the Province’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program. Learn more about what the region is doing to prevent and reduce invasive species through regional organizations:
- If your business needs financial support but isn’t able to secure conventional financing, our Impact Investment Fund may be able to help.
Resources
Environment Resources
Climate Change Resources
Water Monitoring and Conservation
Climate Impacts and Adaptation
Policy Tools and Resources
Communities
Climate Information Hubs
Past Strategy & Programs
Environment Strategic Plan 2014–2020
This Environment Strategic Plan guided our Environment Initiatives from 2014 to 2020.
Climate Action Program
The Trust’s Climate Action Program was a three-year program with a goal to support local and regional community-based projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts, such as fire, flood and drought. Our Environment Strategic Plan, which includes the goal of resilience in a change climate, remains current in 2020.
Infographic: Climate Action Program Highlights
Community Wildfire Program
The Community Wildfire Program supported communities to enhance their efforts at reducing the risk of wildfires occurring within or adjacent to communities in the Basin. The Trust worked with municipalities, First Nations communities and regional districts in the Basin to provide funding and other support to help mitigate community wildfire risks, augmenting support offered by different levels of government, other organizations and funding programs. Projects funded through this program can be viewed here: Community Wildfire Innovation Grants – Fall 2019
The Community Wildfire Education Grants supported projects that increased public awareness about wildfire risk mitigation measures. Projects funded through this program can be viewed here:
Upper Kootenay Ecosystem Enhancement Plan Grants
This program, created in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, helped protect and enhance fish, wildlife and habitats in and around Koocanusa Reservoir and its tributaries in the Kootenay River system. This program is no longer accepting applications.
- Learn more about the formation of this program.
- Read the plan that was carried out by this program.
- Visit FWCP to learn more and read project funded lists.
Contact
Brianna Burley
Manager, Environment
bburley@ourtrust.org
250-344-2445
Location: Golden
