For Immediate Release

September 29, 2006

Deadline Nears for Wildlife Program

The deadline for Vermont landowners to enter into cost share agreements with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS) for funding wildlife habitat improvement (WHIP) practices is fast approaching. Applications must be received in the local field office by December 1 to be considered for this year’s funding.

Through WHIP, NRCS provides technical assistance and up to 75% of the cost of wildlife habitat improvement practices for restoration and management of native ecosystems. These ecosystems include riparian or river corridors, wetlands, grasslands, early successional and old field habitat, rare and sensitive species habitat, and other rare and significant Vermont habitats.

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Applicants will be ranked to compete for funding based upon habitat quality and quantity restored. NRCS will work with the participant to develop a wildlife habitat development plan which provides the basis of the cost-share agreement between NRCS and the participant. The agreements are usually five to ten years in duration, depending upon the practices to be implemented.

Some practices not covered under WHIP include ponds, wetland enhancements, access roads, food plots and non native plantings, timber stand improvement, harvesting mature, late successional forests and payments for pre-existing practices.

For more information contact your local NRCS field office located at the nearest USDA Service Center. NRCS is listed in the phone book under United States Government – Agriculture Department. Also, WHIP information is available on the web at WWW.VT.NRCS.USDA.Gov.

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