Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program 

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary conservation program that provides technical and financial assistance to landowners for developing, improving or managing wildlife habitat or for restoring natural ecosystems on eligible land.

Landowners agree to prepare and implement a wildlife habitat conservation plan.  NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to implement the wildlife habitat restoration practices. 

To participate in WHIP, individuals must own or have control of the land under consideration.  Eligible lands include privately-owned land; federal, state and local government land on a limited basis; and tribal land.

Land already enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program or the Wetland Reserve Program is not eligible to enroll in WHIP.  Land enrolled in the Emergency Watershed Protection Program that is subject to floodplain easement is not eligible for WHIP.  Land enrolled in the Grassland Reserve Program must meet certain eligibility criteria to be eligible for enrollment in WHIP.

For eligible land, NRCS places primary emphasis on enhancing habitat for fish and wildlife species experiencing declines or those with significantly reduced populations.  Other important considerations are those practices beneficial to fish and wildlife that may not otherwise be funded through other conservation programs, and wildlife and fishery habitat enhancement priorities identified by local and State partners and Indian tribes.  In Maine, NRCS priority habitats and species are delineated in the Maine NRCS Fish and Wildlife Action Plan.

A producer may sign up for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program at any time throughout the year.  Applications received by September 2, 2011 will be considered for funding in Fiscal Year 2012.

Forestry Initiative

Federal funding is available to assist Maine Forest Land owners with forest land planning and management under the New England-New York Forestry Initiative.  This initiative will assist private landowners in conservation planning and management of their private forests to improve wildlife habitat, forest health and productivity, and water quality.  Eligible conservation practices include forest stand improvement, integrated pest management, early successional habitat development and management, tree and shrub establishment, upland wildlife habitat management, stream crossings, riparian forest buffer, fish passage, stream habitat improvement and management, forest trails and landings, conservation cover, access roads, road/trail/landing closure and treatment, wetland restoration, tree and shrub site preparation, and wetland wildlife habitat management

Deadline for applications for Fiscal Year 2012 is September 2, 2011.

News Release