NRCS Opens Sign-Up for $440,000 in USDA Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program Funds

ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 1, 2005) ---Virginia (Ginger) L. Murphy, State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that Maryland and the District of Columbia received funding of $ 439,798 from the 2002 Farm Bill to use to restore wildlife habitat through the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP).

Landowners interested in filing an application for funding consideration through WHIP should immediately contact their local NRCS or Soil Conservation District office located at USDA Service Centers.  Applications will be ranked according to criteria that will determine which proposals offer the most wildlife habitat benefits. Sign-up opened on Monday, November 28, 2005 and extends through Friday, January 6, 2006.

"This is the 8th sign-up that has provided opportunities for farmers and landowners to create wildlife habitat through WHIP," said Murphy.  This conservation funding provides cost-share reimbursement to farmers and landowners that plant grassland habitat or restore riparian buffers, streambanks, and wetlands for wildlife habitat.  WHIP conservation practices restore and manage habitat to benefit game birds, song birds, waterfowl, and other wildlife.

WHIP is a voluntary conservation program that provides technical and financial assistance to landowners and managers to restore upland, wetland, and riparian habitat areas on their property.  The program provides full flexibility to landowners, offering cost-share agreements that usually range from 5 to 10 years in duration.

"Maryland enjoyed tremendous success during previous enrollment periods by assisting landowners to implement WHIP conservation practices," said Mark Rose, NRCS Maryland Assistant State Conservationist for Programs.  “WHIP funding can help landowners pay for the planned restoration of upland habitat (primarily native warm-season grasses), riparian buffers, shallow water areas, wetlands, and control of exotic invasive plants (such as Phragmites) when needed to restore native habitat.”

NRCS State Conservationists, with advice from their State Technical Committee, identify high priority wildlife resource needs and conservation practices that are eligible for cost-share assistance through WHIP.  Other cooperating wildlife agencies or nonprofit organizations may provide expertise and additional cost-share funds to help landowners implement their projects.

"NRCS Maryland works in partnership with the local Soil Conservation Districts, Maryland Departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tailor WHIP to meet the state’s priority natural resource needs," said Steve Strano, NRCS Maryland Acting State Biologist.  "WHIP is an important conservation program because it provides opportunities for those who are interested in managing their lands for wildlife and restoring habitat that was lost due to intensive farming and urbanization.  Private and public schools are encouraged to apply for WHIP funds to create wildlife habitat areas and stream buffers on their school grounds.  Conservation practices installed through WHIP provide schools with an excellent resource for developing outdoor classrooms where wildlife can be studied."

Based on Maryland's identified wildlife habitat priorities, conservation practices eligible for WHIP funding in Maryland include:

• Restoration of grassland habitat in field borders and entire fields;

• Restoration of riparian buffers with trees, shrubs, or herbaceous plants;

• Stabilization of streambanks with trees, shrubs, or herbaceous plants;

• Restoration of wetlands; and,

• Establishment of shallow water areas for wildlife.

“Conservation benefits provided through participation in WHIP will also reduce the impacts of invasive species by restoring habitats to their native plant communities,” said Strano.

To qualify for WHIP, the application must consist of at least one acre of eligible wildlife habitat improvement practices, or at least $300 of WHIP cost-share assistance.  Lands already enrolled in other USDA programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, and the Wetlands Reserve Program are not eligible for WHIP.

NRCS is USDA’s lead conservation agency and has worked hand-in-hand with farmers and landowners for almost 70 years to conserve natural resources on private lands.