Habitat Acquisition TrustOrganization Mandate
To conserve natural environments on southern Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands through land acquisition, conservation covenants, research, stewardship, and education. Locations
HAT is a regional land trust working on southern Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands, primarily within the Capital Regional District. Current Activities and Projects
Good Neighbours Project
HAT has contacted landowners around many protected areas in Greater Victoria - Oak Haven Park, Esquimalt Lagoon, Mount Douglas Park, Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, Uplands Park, Highrock Cairn Park, Mill Hill Regional Park, the Coquitz River Linear Park, Durrell Creek, Rithets Bog, Knockan Hill Park and the Matson Conservation Area. Our Good Neighbours Project promotes conservation and land stewardship among landowners who manage or live close to Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
Our current area of focus is the Millstream Creek Watershed Hill Park in the spring and summer of 2009.
Green Spots
Complementing our Good Neighbours projects, our outreach to elementary and middle schools offers them the opportunity to plant native species naturescape gardens, to be used as outdoor classrooms.
Provincial Parks Programs
Since BC government funding cuts eliminated nature education programs in 2003, HAT and the Goldstream Nature House have secured private funding through the Goldstream Chums Program. In 2005 over 7000 students were able to witness the unforgettable salmon runs with our help.
Conservation Connection
This project includes the Conservation Connection website and an annual forum. In April of 2008 HAT hosted the eighth Conservation Connection Forum, convening over over 90 people from 45 groups to build capacity and partnerships in the Capital Regional District. The 2009 event will be on September 18th at Royal Roads University. In addition, a listserve informs over 100 subscribers regularly.
Urban Forest Stewardship Project
The goal of this project is to promote a new landscape view for valuing and protecting the trees in urban environments. A discussion paper developed in the early stages will guide a future workshop for landscaping professionals. Current projects include mapping of the current and past (1986) urban forest cover in the Greater Victoria Region.
Conservation Covenants
HAT negotiates conservation covenants on private lands as a permanent and legally binding method of securing significant habitats across the region. Completed Activities and Projects
Acquisition Projects
HAT has led or assisted with several acquisition projects since 1996. The estuary and lower reaches of Ayum Creek in Sooke were protected in 1998, and the following year saw the purchase of Brooks Point on South Pender Island. HAT has contributed to the purchase of Matthews Point on Galiano Island, the Sooke Hills, an addition to Knockan Hill Park and the acqusition of Laughlin Lake, the largest freshwater ecosystem on Galiano Island. HAT partnered with the Salt Spring Island Conservancy to protect Mt. Erskine on Salt Spring Island. Most recently HAT raised over $10 000 towards the purchase of the Great Beaver Swamp by the Galiano Conservancy Association.
Conservation Covenants
HAT has completed 21 conservation covenants in the region, all of which are held jointly with other conservancies or governments.
The HAT Manual
Local government decision-makers now have a manual of stewardship tools available to them in their libraries. From voluntary incentives to legal requirements, the comprehensive manual is accompanied by a resource kit of about twenty supporting reference documents.
Tod Creek Watershed Project
HAT completed a partnership project with Coastal Enterprises and Resources (CERCA)to construct a small fishway on lower Tod Creek. The fishway provides access to more spawning habitat in the creek for Coho Salmon. The Friends of Tod Creek Watershed are continuing HAT's work and embarking on new and exciting projects too. Fundraising Initiatives
Become a monthly donor to HAT!
Visit: http://www.hat.bc.ca/donate.htm
Operating costs are more challenging funds to raise than project costs, but they permit HAT to commit the time needed to draft project proposals, and to manage our funded projects.
HAT maintains a permanent endowment fund with the Victoria Foundation. This fund remains with the Foundation, and as the principle grows, HAT will access the interest to fund some of its activities.
Conservation covenants generally cost about $10,000 to complete, and so are much more cost-effective than outright purchase. Contributions to these costs allow us to protect more habitat. Partners
Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team
Greater Victoria Compost Education Society
Nature Conservancy of Canada
TLC The Land Conservancy of BC
Naturescape BC
CRD Parks
District of Saanich
Township of Esquimalt
Native Plant Study Group
Native Plant Society of BC
Victoria Natural History Society
Evergreen Foundation
Esquimalt Lagoon Stewardship Initiative
Environment Canada
Gorge Waterway Initiative
Peninsula Streams Publications
"HATChat", is our seasonally published newsletter
The HAT Manual: Protecting Natural Areas in the Capital Region is available for download from HAT's website:
http://www.hat.bc.ca/resources/resources.htm#manual Volunteers Required
Required skills: Participation on Land, Stewardship, Fundraising and Finance, and Communication Committees. Make decisions that make a difference in our community! Call our office to find out how to apply.
Land restoration projects (ongoing). Visit the HAt website for details. http://www.hat.bc.ca/events.htm 
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P.O. Box 8552
Victoria, BC V8W 3S2 Phone: 250-995-2428
Fax: 250-920-7975
Email: hatmail@hat.bc.ca
Website: hat.bc.ca Main Contact
Adam Taylor
Executive Director
Phone: 250-995-2428
Fax: 250-920-7975
Email: adam@hat.bc.ca
Secondary Contact
Todd Carnahan
Land Care Coordinator
Phone: 250-995-2428
Fax: 250-920-7975
Email: todd@hat.bc.ca
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