This nature trust of BC project proposes to permanently secure up to five hundred acres of habitat for priority species within the canadian intermountain joint venture program area in british columbia…

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $1,501,300 Project Grant under the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.623) program to The Nature Trust of British Columbia. The grant supports the permanent protection of up to 500 acres of critical wetland, grassland, and upland habitats in British Columbia's Columbia River Valley and Wycliffe Wildlife Corridor. Key activities include acquiring fee simple private lands to safeguard breeding and nesting habitat for over 200 species of birds, including up to 24 waterfowl species and several federally listed species at risk such as Lewis's Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, and Common Nighthawk. The project also aims to maintain wildlife corridors and provide public recreational opportunities like birdwatching and seasonal waterfowl hunting, while contributing ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and flood mitigation. This habitat conservation work aligns with the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund's mission to protect and restore wetland ecosystems for migratory birds and other wildlife across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

This nature trust of BC project proposes to permanently secure up to five hundred acres of habitat for priority species within the canadian intermountain joint venture program area in british columbia (BC) through purchase of fee simple private land. This area, located in the interior of BC, is vitally important as IT accounts for seventy percent of british columbia s breeding waterfowl population with an estimated population of almost one and a half million birds. This project will focus on regionally important wetland areas along the valley bottoms in the columbia river basin including the rocky mountain trench and wycliffe wildlife corridor in the east kootenay region of BC. The columbia river wetlands and the wycliffe wildlife corridor are home to a wide range of waterfowl, including mallard, cinnamon and green-winged teal, american wigeon, pintail, ring-necked duck, barrow s goldeneye, scaup, canada goose, tundra swan, bufflehead, ruddy duck, common merganser, and wood duck. The columbia river valley forms part of the pacific flyway and contains one of canada s largest intact wetland complexes, providing nesting and rearing habitat for over two hundred species of birds and supporting several federally listed species at risk. The columbia wetlands complex has been identified as a wetland of international importance. The abundance of freshwater wetlands and proximity to other designated conservation lands in this area provides extensive habitat securement opportunities to protect breeding waterfowl and wetland associated bird species. Within the columbia river valley bottom between canal flats and donald, BC, this project proposes to acquire up to four hundred acres of wetland and associated upland habitat.further west, along the columbia river valley, is the wycliffe wildlife corridor located north-west of the city of cranbrook. This area is predominately grassland intermixed with forests, wetlands, and riparian areas and provides an essential travel corridor and wintering habitat for various wildlife species as well as habitat for several species at risk. This project proposes to secure an additional one hundred acres of wetland and associated upland habitat to complement the previously protected lands in this area. In addition to waterfowl and waterbirds known to use these wetlands, including mallard and great blue heron, this area contains habitat for federally listed species at risk including lewis s woodpecker, barn swallow, and common nighthawk.securement of these columbia river valley freshwater wetlands, floodplain, agricultural lands, and wetland-associated uplands in grass-covered rangelands, will provide important breeding and nesting habitat for up to twenty-four species of waterfowl, as well as for other wetland associated birds. Habitat securement in this area ensures valley bottom connectivity is intact, providing a more secure corridor for ELK migration and habitat linkage within an important grizzly bear corridor.wetland habitat loss and degradation is a key threat to breeding and migrating waterfowl in this area. Intensive agricultural and residential development in lower elevations and valley bottoms continues to result in habitat loss. Poor range and livestock management over the past century have also degraded wetland and riparian breeding habitat, adding to the stress on ecosystems from climate change.as most of the nature trust of british columbia properties allow for public access, such as seasonal waterfowl hunting (as guided by provincial hunting regulations) and birdwatching, the proposed conservation securement projects will provide the local communities and visitors with recreational and health benefits in perpetuity. Functioning wetlands, along with grassland and forested uplands, also provide nature-based solutions to mitigate changing environmental conditions (e.g., carbon sequestration), risk of flooding, drought, and erosion, as well as for maintaining water quality.