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
Large-scale Projects Support Ecosystem Health April 25, 2022 - Forests, wetlands and riparian areas are among the habitats that will benefit from several projects that are focusing on ensuring healthy, diverse and functioning ecosystems in the Columbia Basin. “The Trust heard from people living in the Basin that ecosystem […]
Energy Retrofits in Community Buildings April 13, 2022 - Fourteen projects target sustainability and energy efficiency with Trust support Community purpose buildings in 12 communities will be more sustainable, safer, and energy-efficient for Basin residents. The energy retrofits and repairs are made possible with $1.2 million in support from […]
Communities Target Climate Resilience March 30, 2022 - Eight projects help communities address climate change with support from the Trust. Whether they’re enabling the public to use electric cars or promoting clean energy, eight projects are helping Columbia Basin communities become more climate-resilient, with support from Columbia Basin […]View all Environment articles.
Funding
- 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 healthy, diverse and functioning ecosystems through the Ecosystem Enhancement Program. This program will have a meaningful and measurable impact in supporting and strengthening ecosystem health in the Basin.
- 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 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
- 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
Hannah Holden
Senior Manager, Delivery of Benefits
hholden@ourtrust.org
250.265.9940
Location: Nakusp
Krista Watts
Environmental Lead, Delivery of Benefits
kwatts@ourtrust.org
250.304.6058
Location: Castlegar
