HAT Manual: Planning and Stewardship in Your Community
During the course of a three-year term of office in local government, an elected official will make approximately 4000 decisions - small and large - on issues related to governance. The results of those decisions change the landscape and nature of the Capital Region. The HAT manual is designed to help decision-makers make conservation choices.
The HAT Manual is designed for people who want to protect natural areas, but are not sure of the options open to them. These people might be local government decision-makers, developers, members of conservation organizations and individuals who are trying to make a difference.
The Manual outlines practical information on the state of natural areas in the Capital Region, the benefits of natural areas, and the tools available to protect them in the Capital Region. It includes relevant legislation, examples of stewardship options, information on voluntary stewardship agreements and conservation covenants, an update on changes to the federal Ecological Gifts program, Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory information, and other important information.
HAT has discussed and presented a copy of the Manual to every local government in the region, along with a resource kit of reference materials. HAT is also pleased to be working with a representative from the local "Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team", a joint federal/provincial initiative, to highlight the materials presented in the resource manual and to offer opportunities for participants to ask questions.
Copies of the manual can be purchased for $20 by calling the HAT office at 995-2428 or can be downloaded for free.
Funding for the Manual was provided by The Real Estate Foundation of BC, the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative, TD Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation, the BC Conservation Data Centre and the Nature Conservancyof Canada.
Additional Resources
HAT has a variety of ways to help you find the information you are seeking about a particular issue or concern. Our office contains quite an extensive library and a photocopier, and we have also created a website that provides links to over 90 other conservation organisations that work in this region. You are very welcome to use these resources and please let us know if there is something in particular that you’re having difficulty finding: our staff is knowledgeable and well-connected to even more knowledgeable people!
