Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
Overview
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The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a
voluntary program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat on their
lands. Through WHIP, both technical and financial assistance are available
from NRCS to help establish and improve wildlife habitat. |
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West Virginia targeted four major habitat types for
technical and financial assistance. These habitat types include the
development of riparian areas for improved water quality and wildlife
habitat; farm wildlife for small game habitat such as cottontail rabbits and
native grasslands for songbirds; protection of rare threatened and
endangered species such as the federally endangered clubshell mussel; and
woodland wildlife species habitat improvements for ruffed grouse and wild
turkey. |
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Conservation practices eligible for WHIP funding include the
restoration of grassland habitat in field borders and entire fields; the
restoration of riparian areas with trees, shrubs or herbaceous plants; and
improvement of woodlands. The use of warm season grasses and native plants
are encouraged, as they are more likely to create a higher quality habitat
while protecting soil from erosion and improving water quality. |
Conservation practices eligible for WHIP funding include the restoration of
grassland habitat in field borders and entire fields; the restoration of
riparian areas with trees, schrubs or herbaceous plants; and improvement of
woodlands. The use of warm season grasses and native plants are encouraged, as
they are more likely to create a higher quality habitat while protecting soil
from erosion and improving water quality.
Applications are evaluated and ranked using
statewide criteria. Successful applicants who own or control land agree to
prepare and implement a wildlife habitat development plan. This plan
describes the landowner’s objectives for improving wildlife habitat, a list
of practices tailored for the applicant’s property that will be installed,
detail needed to install them and a schedule for implementation.
Applications are evaluated and ranked using statewide criteria. Successful
applicants who own or control land agree to prepare and implement a wildlife
habitat development plan. This plan describes the landowner’s objectives for
improving wildlife habitat, a list of practices tailored for the applicant’s
property that will be installed, detail needed to install them and a schedule
for implementation.
There is no minimum acreage to enroll. The cost-share rate for implementing
practices is 75 percent of the total cost of establishment for most practices.
Since the year 2000, the West Virginia WHIP has worked closely with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. This
partnership enables work crews to build high quality fencing along streams and
other sensitive areas, primarily for the establishment of corridors to provide
riparian wildlife habitat and improved water quality. Combining these programs
enables landowners to have a fence installed at minimal or no cost to the
landowner. To date NRCS and USFWS have constructed over 67 miles of fence and
protected over 10,000 acres of riparian corridors.
2005 Accomplishments
The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program received 140 applications for
improvements to 25,741 acres of wildlife habitat, requesting an estimated
$654,000. Wildlife habitat management plans and contracts were completed on
25,741 acres for 140 landowners, obligating $654,413 for cost-share payments to
West Virginia landowners.
In 2003, NRCS has entered into cooperative agreement with the West Virginia
Division of Natural Resources to provide technical assistance to landowners to
develop individual wildlife management plans through WHIP. This agreement was renewed for 2005.
| Program |
Financial Assistance |
Contracts |
Acres |
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Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) |
$654,413 |
140 |
25,741 |
2005 WHIP success stories:
< Back to 2005 Annual Report
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