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WHIP is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve
wildlife habitat primarily on private land.
Benefits
- Improve upland wildlife habitat
- Improve riparian and aquatic areas
- Some species who have benefited: Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobwhite
Quail, Swift fox, Short-eared owl, Karner-blue Butterfly, and
Louisiana Black Bear
How it Works
NRCS works with participant to develop a wildlife habitat developmental
plan. This plan becomes the basis of the cost-share payments to
landowners under these agreements that are usually 5 to 10 years in
duration, depending on the practices to be installed.
There are shorter-term agreements to install practices that are needed
to meet wildlife emergencies, as approved by the NRCS State
Conservationist. NRCS also provides greater cost-share assistance to
landowners who enter into agreement of 15 years or more for practices on
essential plant and animal habitat. NRCS can use up to 15% of its
available WHIP funds for this purpose.
NRCS does not place limits on the number of acres that can be enrolled
in the program or the amount of payment made; however some states may
choose to establish such requirements.
NRCS continues to provide assistance to landowners after completion of
habitat development activities. This assistance may be in the form
of monitoring habitat practices, reviewing management guidelines, or
provide biological and engineering advice on how to achieve optimum
results for targeted species.
Currently there is no funding for 2007
for the WHIP Programs. Please check back for updates.
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