For immediate release

Wildlife Conservation Funding Nears April 15 deadline set for Wildlife Habitat Program

SPOKANE, Wash. (March 13, 2009) – Washington landowners interested in developing or improving wildlife habitat have until April 15 to apply for cost-share assistance through USDA’s Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today.

WHIP is a national program administered by the NRCS that provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners and tribes for developing, restoring and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat. Landowners receive technical and financial assistance through five- to ten-year contracts. State wide, approximately $1 million in financial assistance is available through the program this year.

According to NRCS Asst. State Conservationist, Dave Brown, WHIP program funds in Washington will be used on agricultural land and forest land where fish and wildlife habitat has been affected by past activities or management. 

“The objectives of the program include providing technical assistance and payments to eligible participants to implement practices that improve wildlife habitat and educating landowners on wildlife species and their habitat needs,” Brown said. “There is also an increasing interest in providing habitat for native pollinator species,” he said.

Previous WHIP habitat improvement activities in Washington have included shrub-steppe restoration, native prairie restoration, riparian restoration and wetland wildlife habitat improvement.

Brown encourages landowners who are interested in the program to contact their local NRCS office. Applications received by April 15 will be ranked and prioritized and considered for 2009 funding. For the location of your local NRCS office, visit the NRCS website at www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov or call 509-323-2900.

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