Slide 1 WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM (WHIP) United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM (WHIP)

United States Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service

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WHIP Key Points

• Improves and protects wildlife habitat on private and Tribal lands

• Provides technical and financial assistance under 5-year to 15-year agreements

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WHIP Key Points

• Wildlife habitat resource needs identified in the state WHIP plan.

• Developed by State Conservationist with Kansas State Technical Committees’ advice.

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WHIP Key Points• Kansas WHIP plan

– Targeted Species• Lesser/Greater Prairie Chicken• Bobwhite Quail• Ring-Necked Pheasant

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WHIP Key Points

• Application ranking factors consider environmental benefits and cost effectiveness

• A person may participate in WHIP if he or she owns or leases land or can provide proof of control of the land for the agreement period

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WHIP Key Points

• KDWP provides WHIP technical support– Announce WHIP– Service applications– Develop plans and contracts – Apply practices and systems

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WHIP Key Points

• Essential plant and animal habitat agreements– Target species: greater and lesser prairie

chickens– Target treatment: brush control and grazing

lands management– Fifteen year agreements – 100 percent cost-share on brush control and

grazing lands management

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EQIP, WRP and WHIP have open sign-ups, and applications are accepted continuously

WHIP Key Points

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WHIP Key Points

• National Accomplishments Through 2002– Contracts: 12,500 – Acres: 1.9 million

• Kansas Accomplishments Through 2003– Contracts: 435– Acres: 70,912

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