Contacts:
Anita Brown, (530) 792-5644
Alan Forkey, (530) 792-5653

DAVIS, Calif., November 28, 2008—Those interested in establishing or improving wildlife habitat on farm or ranchland are invited to apply for help through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The new sign up period for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) begins immediately running through Friday, January 23, 2009.

The WHIP program provides 75% of the cost of approved practices undertaken to benefit wildlife. The program was reauthorized last year under the new 2008 Farm Bill. While the purpose of the program remains enhancing wildlife habitat on private or Tribal land, eligibility is now limited to private agricultural landowners. Projects to improve habitat for threatened, endangered and other species of special concern may receive priority.

California State Conservationist, Lincoln "Ed" Burton, said that while no specific allocation had yet been made to California, in recent years the State has received between one and two million dollars in WHIP funds.

Potential projects, according to Assistant State Conservationist Alan Forkey, include restoring native plant communities (or removing noxious weeds) to enhance the vegetative species upon which wildlife depend. Revegetation of riparian areas can be especially beneficial, Forkey says.

The WHIP program is a competitive conservation program reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. All program applicants must submit project proposals which will be ranked according to environmental benefits to wildlife. The ranking criteria as well as eligibility and application procedures are available at www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip/ or by contacting your local county NRCS office.

-NRCS-

 The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people
conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.

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