Funding Allocation Process

An important component of Together for Wildlife implementation is transparency around the process for allocating funding to various wildlife and habitat projects across B.C.

On this page:

• Together for wildlife: Project funding cycle 
• Funding allocation FAQ

Together for wildlife: Project funding cycle

Identifying Together for Wildlife priorities is a collaborative process with Indigenous Nations and stakeholders, and recognises the diversity of Indigenous Peoples, stakeholders, wildlife, and ecosystems across the province.

Annual funding allocation process:

Funding allocation FAQ

These frequently asked questions describe the Together for Wildlife (T4W) funding allocation process for 2020-21 and 2021-22, the first two years of T4W implementation. The Province is committed to continuing to review and improve the process over time and updates will reflect these changes.

Frequently asked questions:

1. How much Provincial government funding has been allocated to deliver the T4W strategy? 
2. How much money is generated annually by hunting and trapping licenses and fees in B.C.?
3. How were high-level budget targets established for T4W?
4. What was the role of the Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council in allocating funds for T4W implementation?
5. How were T4W projects prioritised across the province? 
6. What was the process for allocating funds to individual projects?
7. How can Indigenous Nations, non-governmental organizations, and other partners access funding to implement T4W?
8. Where can I find out more about projects funded through T4W?   
9. How will the Province evaluate success of T4W implementation, including funding investments?
10. How is the Province ensuring transparency for funding and budget allocation decisions?

Appendices: 

• Appendix 1. Project proposal form for Together for Wildlife funding: 2021-22

1.How much Provincial government funding has been allocated to deliver the T4W strategy?

Government committed up to $10 million to support implementation of the T4W Strategy. In 2020-21, approximately $9 million was spent to deliver the T4W strategy. This was less than the original $10 million budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic response, and pressures elsewhere in the Resource Stewardship Division. The difference was more than offset by significant additional funding through the COVID-19 economic response, with an additional $10 million allocated for conservation and stewardship projects that also provided economic benefit (the Conservation Economic Stimulus Initiative).

Another important source of funding to implement the T4W strategy is the Indigenous Funding Program (formally Indigenous Funding Envelope), which provides capacity funding for Indigenous Nations to support implementation of the strategy. In 2020-21, $120 thousand was allocated specifically for T4W.

The T4W funding was additive to other, pre-existing funding for wildlife and habitat, such as the Land Based Investment Strategy, capital and base program funds, etc.

The 2021-22 fiscal year is still in progress, but the forecasted spending is $9.35 million from T4W and $350 thousand from the Indigenous Funding Program.

2.How much money is generated annually by hunting and trapping licenses and fees in B.C.?

The amount of money generated by hunting and trapping licenses and fees is typically around $9-10 million per year but was $8 million in 2020-21 primarily due to COVID-19 travel restrictions resulting in fewer non-resident hunters.  

3.How were high-level budget targets established for T4W?

The T4W budget was administered by first establishing “high-level” budget targets for administration (including staffing) and the 24 actions in the strategy. Detailed, project-specific budgets were determined as a later step.

The development of a long-term staffing strategy to ensure sufficient capacity for T4W implementation was led by the Wildlife and Habitat Branch, in collaboration with Regional Operations and Executive, and an extensive planning process. The planning process involved:

• A review of each T4W commitment (i.e., action)
• The current capacity to support implementation
• Any gaps where additional capacity was needed, and
• The inclusion of Indigenous Nations and stakeholder feedback during engagement

New staff positions were additive, i.e., when new positions were filled by staff in the public service, their former positions were backfilled.

Funding needs for each action in T4W were estimated through implementation planning and the creation of multi-year budgets, also informed by input from Indigenous Nations, stakeholders, and the public during engagement on the T4W strategy. For example, we heard it is critical to allocate significant investments in on-the-ground stewardship activities at a meaningful scale for wildlife. Hence a significant portion of the budget was allocated to on-the-ground projects which meant relatively smaller budgets for other components of the strategy, such as research or monitoring.

The draft budget plan was discussed with Regional Operations and the Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council to seek input, and allocations were updated in response to this feedback.

4.What was the role of the Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council in allocating funds for T4W implementation?

The Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council provided early input on principles for allocating funding, and on draft high-level budget targets at their January 13, 2021, March 10, 2021, and April 14, 2021 meetings. The council was not involved in decisions for specific projects. The Council recommended important criteria to consider when allocating funds, including partnerships with Indigenous Nations and stakeholders, and tangible benefits for wildlife. This level of advisement aligns with their Terms of Reference, which includes responsibility to “Provide advice, insights, ideas, and recommendations on strategic priorities provincially for wildlife stewardship and conservation, including ecological, social, or economic research priorities and other wildlife and wildlife habitat matters”.

The Council also advised the Province on approaches for ensuring transparency around funding allocations. For example, Council recommended that all funded projects and associated budgets be included in the first annual T4W Director’s Report, and that a detailed spreadsheet and visual display be available on-line with more information on projects and their outcomes.

5.How were T4W projects prioritised across the province? 

Criteria for prioritising provincial-level T4W projects included:

• Alignment with T4W principles
• Delivery of T4W commitments (i.e., goals and actions)
• Tangible benefits for wildlife and habitat and program improvements
• Partnerships with Indigenous Nations
• Partnerships with stakeholders

Criteria for prioritising regional-scale T4W included:

• The priorities of Indigenous Nations, as identified through collaborative stewardship forums, government to government agreements, or individual engagements with Nations
• Stakeholder input, as determined through discussions at advisory tables, or with individual stakeholders
• Alignment with government commitments, including Government to Government agreements
• Alignment with other priority initiatives, such as Modernized Land Use Planning
• Capacity of staff and partner organizations to deliver the project

Projects that met all these criteria were ranked higher than projects that met only some of the criteria.

In addition, there were mandatory requirements that project proponents submit data to provincial systems and have any required permits and authorisations in place before delivering projects.

6.What was the process for allocating funds to individual projects?

In 2020-21 and 2021-22, funding was administered primarily through Provincial government staff to ensure that the collective priorities of Indigenous Nations, stakeholders and staff at a regional scale are the focus of regional delivery. Given the diversity of Indigenous Peoples, stakeholders, wildlife, and ecosystems across the province, it is important that local priorities are determined by local people, all while contributing to the T4W vision.

Provincial government proponents completed a simple request for funding form for proposed T4W projects (see Appendix 1). These funding requests were reviewed by Provincial government subject matter experts to ensure:

• Proper standards are followed (e.g., inventory standards)
• Projects are aligned (e.g., across regions), and
• Any potential risks to wildlife or people are minimized

Individual projects were prioritised by management teams in each region or branch to facilitate funding allocation decisions, given requests far exceeded available funding. Final funding allocation decisions were made by the Director, Wildlife and Habitat Branch, based on reviews by staff, regional/branch priorities, and provincial-level criteria (see Question 5 above).

7.How can Indigenous Nations, non-governmental organizations, and other partners access funding to implement T4W?

Funds are primarily allocated to Provincial government regions or branches (see Question 6 above). Many Indigenous Nations, non-governmental organizations, and other partners then receive funding through a contract or contribution agreement with the Province.

In 2020-21, $1.7 million was transferred to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) to provide an avenue for Indigenous Nations, non-governmental organizations, and other partners to directly apply for and receive T4W funding. These funds are being administered over 2 years through the regular granting programs under HCTF that align with the T4W strategy, including Enhancement and Restoration Grants, Habitat Acquisition Grants, and Conservation Lands Operations and Management.

Indigenous Nations were also able to access T4W funding through the work of the First Nation-B.C. Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Forum. The First Nation Forum developed work plans and identified budget needs for priority actions under Goal 5 of the strategy (Collaborative wildlife stewardship advances reconciliation with Indigenous governments), and these funds were transferred to Nations to support delivery of these actions.

In addition, funding to support T4W implementation was made available through the Indigenous Funding Program for Indigenous Nations.

8.Where can I find out more about projects funded through T4W? 

Detailed information on projects funded through T4W is available at:

Click here

9.How will the Province evaluate success of T4W implementation, including funding investments?

For every project funded by T4W, proponents were required to report out on:

• Finances (including leveraged funds)
• Project achievements (deliverables and outcomes)
• Jobs created (including jobs for Indigenous people specifically)
• Partnerships with Indigenous Nations, and
• Partnerships with stakeholders

Proponents for projects that involved the collection of wildlife or habitat data were required to submit those data to provincial systems, such as the Wildlife Species Inventory.

Projects that involved the conservation, restoration or enhancement of wildlife habitat were required to submit data to support the Ministry’s performance measure for these activities, as committed to in the 2020/2021 – 2022/23 Service Plan (page 10).

In addition, the Province is currently seeking advice from the Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council on measures of success for T4W implementation. Additional performance measures will be developed and reported out over the coming years.  

10.How is the Province ensuring transparency for funding and budget allocation decisions?

Transparency around funding and budget allocation decisions is a high priority for the Province. To support this, the Province provided detailed financial information in the annual Together for Wildlife Director’s Report. The Province also shared information on the funding allocation process with Provincial advisory bodies (e.g., Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council, First Nation-BC Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Forum, and Provincial Hunting and Trapping Advisory Team), regional advisory bodies, and discussions with individual Indigenous Nations and stakeholders.

Moving forward, regions will be developing Regional Action Plans for T4W implementation with Indigenous Nations and stakeholders, to collectively identify priorities for regional projects over multiple years. This strategic, collaborative approach will support future budget allocation decisions and strategic coordination of funding from multiple sources. The vision is to holistically report on the full investment for wildlife and habitat stewardship as well as identify funding needs proactively.

• Appendix 1. Project proposal form for Together for Wildlife funding: 2021-22