Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program provides financial incentives to develop habitat for fish and wildlife on private lands. Participants agree to implement a wildlife habitat development plan and NRCS agrees to provide cost-share assistance for the initial implementation of wildlife habitat development practices. NRCS and program participants enter into a cost-share agreement for wildlife habitat development. Cost-sharing is available for 50 percent of the average cost of practice establishment. The cost-share agreement typically lasts a minimum of 5 years from the date that the contract is signed.

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Texas 2007 WHIP Ranking Criteria (PDF; 30 KB)

State Objective

The state objective is to restore and conserve native wildlife habitats with emphasis on prairies and savannahs, riparian zones, wetlands, forestland and woodlands and thorn shrub. Emphasis will be placed on restoring native habitats of species experiencing declines or reduced populations due to agricultural impacts. Additional consideration will be given to applications that have a high likelihood of success and that will result in a significant change in the existing habitat. Offers that provide a definite benefit to federally listed threatened or endangered species will receive extra points in the ranking.

Program Requirements

Eligible lands include privately owned lands, including lands owned by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and Indian Tribal lands. Other lands may be eligible if they are of sufficiently high priority to merit use of WHIP resources as determined by the State Conservationist. Applicants must own or be in control of the land and be in compliance with the conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985 as amended regarding highly erodible land and wetlands.

Practices Available

Practices available are those needed to restore and maintain the planned habitat. Examples of common practices include range planting, brush management, prescribed grazing and Upland or Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management.

How to Participate

Persons interested in applying for this program must complete and submit an application form NRCS-CPA-1200 to the NRCS office servicing the county where the land is located. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis; however, ranking window cutoffs are established yearly to determine applications to be funded in that fiscal year. Contact NRCS for current information on the cutoff date.

Also see the national NRCS web site for more information about the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.

Contact

Doug Sharer, State Program Liason
Phone: 254-742-9825

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