Getting Started > Cost Share Payments > Cost Share Programs

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Purpose:

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program that encourages creation of high quality wildlife habitats that support wildlife populations of national significance.  NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to landowners and others to develop upland, wetland, riparian and aquatic habitat areas on their property.

Administering Agency:

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service

Tax Consequences:

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program qualifies for the Section 126 exclusion.

Eligibility:

Eligible lands include:

Privately owned land;

Federal land when the primary benefit is on tribal or private land;

State and local government land on a limited basis; and

Tribal land

If land is determined eligible emphasis is placed on:

Habitat areas for wildlife species experiencing declining or significantly reduced populations;

Practices beneficial to fish and wildlife that may not otherwise be funded; and

Wildlife and fishery habitats identified by local and State partners and Indian tribes in each state

Assistance Offered:

NRCS works with the participant to develop a wildlife habitat development plan.  This plan becomes that basis of the cost-share agreement between NRCS and the participant.  NRCS provides cost-share payments to landowners under these agreements that are usually 5 to 10 years in duration, depending on the practices to be installed.

NRCS provides greater cost-share assistance to landowners who enter into agreements of 15 years or more for practices on essential plant and animal habitat.

There are shorter term agreements to install practices that are needed to meet wildlife emergencies.

NRCS does not place limits on the number of acres that can be enrolled in the program, or the amount or payment to be made, however some states may choose to set limits.

Additional Information:

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip/ (NRCS)

http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/whip.htm (NRCS)