The BC Conservation & Biodiversity Awards celebrate the 2024 Award recipients and their important conservation-based initiatives in British Columbia
Summary
These recipients, all based in BC, are recognized for their exceptional efforts in enhancing BCs natural environment and safeguarding its wilderness and biodiversity through their charitable work. This is the second largest salmon producing watershed in BC Environmental Youth Alliance Society for EYAs Community-led Indigenous Food Land project and wetland biodiversity corridor expansion in Downton Eastside The Nature Trust of BC to reverse forest encroachment in the Hoodoos Conservation Area to preserve native grasslands to benefit the plants and animals within (especially SAR) Fraser River Sturgeon Society to remove Ghost Gear (i.e. nets) in the Lower Fraser to improve habitat, rebuild traditional Indigenous fishing territories and prevent mortality of White Sturgeon and other threatened species Galiano Conservancy Association to restore 4 ha of the Waterfall Creek watershed at the GCAs Millard Learning Centre and to restore wetland and red-legged frog habitat MakeWay Charitable Society to fund the 2024 Search for Pacific Herring "Slhawt" program in Howe Sound to collect and share data that will be useful and credible for informing decision-making in the region Raincoast Conservation Foundation to support the Katzie First Nation and the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (LFFA), to develop a Biodiversity Monitoring Program in the Upper Pitt River for wildlife studies focusing on recovery and species of concern Rivershed Society of BC to support a collaboration of Kwantlen First Nation and agricultural landholders to restore and connect a biodiverse food-lands corridor of habitat along the Salmon River in Seymour Salmonid Society to engage a multi stakeholder group in planning and fundraising for future enhancement work in the Lower Seymour River and estuary Squamish Environment Society to support the Wildlife Connectivity Project and land managers in safeguarding and restoring vulnerable terrestrial habitat and wildlife MakeWay Charitable Society to create a 5-year trail network plan for the Hada region (Broughton Archipelago) with trail building programs and community planning events Sunshine Coast Conservation Association to fund a Fisheries Sensitive Watershed Designation for McNab Creek Howe Sound, an ecological sanctuary for many species Thetis Island Nature Conservancy to support residents in stewarding and regenerating biodiversity through habitat restoration, protection, and preservation UBC to provide high resolution zooplankton biodiversity data by integrating eDNA, and the Zooscan imaging system to establish a biodiversity benchmark for the wider BC coastThe BCCB Awards fill a notable gap in environmental funding. Since its inception in 2021, the BCCB Awards have disbursed over 40 grants, totaling almost $700,000, to organizations whose contributions have led to tangible improvements in the natural environment of BC.Past recipients feedback underscores the vital role of these funds in launching and sustaining impactful projects. Year one of our three-year project takes a whole community approach to conserving and restoring the health of Lake Windermere. The 2025 Award winners will be chosen by our Selection Committee, a panel of experts from leading academic institutions and environmental organizations.