Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is designed to protect and increase wildlife in and around cropland, forestland, grazing land, and recreational land. The federal government will pay part of the cost to install conservation practices on these lands. They also provide free conservation planning advice. Some examples of conservation practices include:

  • Cropland- installation of buffer strips or wetlands

  • Forestland- forest site preparation, prescribed burning, buffers

  • Grazing land- grass establishment, fencing, wildlife plantings

  • Recreational land- creating habitat for fish and wildlife, wetland restoration, wildlife plantings.

Land Use

Cropland, Grazing land, Recreational land, Forestland

Focus

Cost-share payments

Resource Concern

Soil erosion, Water quality, Wildlife habitat

Purpose

The environmental purpose is to improve upland wildlife habitat, such as native prairie. This includes the improvement of riparian and aquatic areas and creation of habitats for rare or declining species.

Landowner Benefits

Landowners receive cost-share to implement habitat improvement or protection. Technical assistance is given in the form of a wildlife habitat plan, monitoring practices, reviewing management guidelines, and providing basic biological and engineering advice.

Description

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) encourages the creation, maintenance, and protection of significant, high-quality wildlife habitats with a focus on habitats that support rare or declining species. This program provides cost-share payments for development and protection of upland, wetland, riparian, and aquatic habitat areas. Emphasis is placed on creating habitats for endangered species and implementing practices beneficial to fish and wildlife.

Practices

Seeding, tree and shrub plantings, fencing, in-stream fish structures, prairie and savannah restoration, livestock exclusion, grass establishment, wildlife plantings, buffers, forest site preparation, and more.

Costs to Landowner

Landowners must pay for 25% of the cost of the management and protection mechanisms implemented. Although landowners continue to retain private ownership of the land, they voluntarily limit certain uses of the property for a given period of time.

Eligibility

Almost any type of land, including agricultural and non-agricultural land, woodlots, pastures, and stream banks are eligible. Privately owned lands, some state and local government properties, and individuals who either lease land or can provide proof of control of the land are eligible. Lands already enrolled in other programs are generally not eligible. There are regulations being developed that restrict "wealthy" landowners from participating.

Contract

The contract is variable but is usually 5-10 years with a maximum around 15 years. Agreements of less than 5 years are possible if emergency practices are necessary. The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) provides greater cost-share assistance to landowners entering agreements of 15 years or more.

Other Notes

Federal regulations place no limits on the number of acres enrolled or amount of payments made, although individual states may place limits.

Landowner Initiation
  • Contact the local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) where you own land.
  • Ask about enrolling land into the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP).

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