Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program

TORRINGTON — The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the deadline for applications for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is March 1.

The NRCS has allocated $1,041,960 in WHIP funds for Connecticut wildlife projects this year. WHIP has proven to be a highly effective and widely accepted program across the country. WHIP provides assistance to conservation minded landowners to install needed wildlife habitat conservation measures.

WHIP is a voluntary program to assist landowners in creating, restoring, and enhancing wildlife habitat primarily on private lands. It provides both technical assistance and cost-share payments to help establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. Conservation practices such as brush management, invasive species removal, tree plantings along streams, native grass seedlings, streambank stabilization, removal of dams, creation of fish passages, and establishment of fish habitat structures can be included in a WHIP contract.

Priority areas include imperiled or underrepresented habitats such as trap rock ridges, wetlands, riparian areas, old fields and grasslands, threatened and endangered species habitat, and aquatic ecosystems.

Applications will be ranked, so that the most valuable wildlife projects are funded. This is not a backyard wildlife enhancement program. To participate in the program, a person must either own the land on which WHIP will be implemented, or have control and possession of the land for the duration of the contract. Contracts generally last from five to ten years.

To apply or for more information, contact Kathleen Johnson at 860-626-8258.