National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Program Description

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program that encourages creation of high quality wildlife habitats that support wildlife populations of National, State, Tribal, and local significance. Through WHIP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to landowners and others to develop upland, wetland, riparian, and aquatic habitat areas on their property.

Program Administration

WHIP is administered through the local NRCS offices or conservation district offices. For a list of state WHIP contacts, see http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip/WHIP_signup/WHIP_Stateprograms.html.

Program Status

WHIP was created by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (1996 Farm Bill) and was reauthorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill). The 2002 Farm Bill also allows WHIP to provide bonus payments for easements longer than the up to 15 year normal agreements.

How the Program is Funded

WHIP has mandatory funding with a total of $360 million over six years. Funds are allocated to states based on wildlife conservation priorities which will vary by state, and may include: special pilot programs for wildlife habitat development, targeted species and their habitats, specific practices, and cooperate agreements with other federal, state, or local agencies, conservation districts, or private conservation groups.

Using the Program

WHIP applications are accepted at local USDA Service Centers or conservation district offices at any time. They may also be accepted by cooperating conservation partners approved or designated by NRCS.

Participants work with NRCS to prepare a wildlife habitat development plan in consultation with the local conservation district. The agreement describes the landowner's goals for improving wildlife habitat, includes a list of practices and schedule for installing them, and details the steps necessary to maintain the habitat for the life of the agreement.

NRCS and the participant enter into a cost-share agreement for wildlife habitat development. This agreement generally lasts five to 10 years from the date the contract is signed. Under the agreement:

The landowner agrees to maintain the cost-shared practices and allow NRCS or its agent access to monitor its effectiveness.
NRCS agrees to provide technical assistance and pay up to 75 percent of the cost of installing the wildlife habitat practices. Additional financial or technical assistance may be available through cooperating partners.

Applications will be ranked according to a state-developed plan, and those that provide the greatest wildlife benefits will be funded. The goal is to provide the best habitat possible for the species of fish and wildlife which the landowner or land steward is trying to protect. Cost-share payments may be used to establish, maintain, or replace practices.

Eligibility Criteria

To participate in WHIP, applicants must own or have control of the land under consideration. Applications may be accepted from individuals, groups, or businesses.

Eligible lands under the program are: 1) privately owned land; 2) federal land when the primary benefit is on private or Tribal land; 3) State and local government land on a limited basis; 4) Tribal land.

Land is not eligible for WHIP if it is currently: 1) federal land (though exceptions can apply); 2) land currently enrolled in Waterbank, Emergency Watershed Program floodplain easements, Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, or other similar programs; 3) land where the expected impact from off-site conditions make the success of habitat improvement unlikely.

WHIP funds cannot be used for mitigation of any kind. Such land can be included in a WHIP cost-share agreement, however cost-share funds cannot be expended on those acres.

Who to Contact

Martha Joseph, NRCS
202-720-7157, Martha.Joseph@usda.gov

Internet Resources

NRCS's WHIP page: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip/

"Building Better Rural Places", description of the program:
http://www.attra.ncat.org/guide/n_z/whip.html

Adapted from "Building Better Rural Places" and NRCS's Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program Fact Sheet.