Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
Who it's for
Private landowners
What landowners get
Financial assistance: up to 75% of cost share; technical assistance
What landowners do
Establish wildlife habitat development practices
Land types covered
Privately owned lands, tribal lands and federal land where the primary benefit is on private or tribal land
Key Documents
- NRCS WHIP page
- WHIP program description [PDF] - from NRCS
- State fact sheets
- WHIP fact sheet [PDF] - from NRCS
News & Publications
10/14/2008
What's in the 2008 Farm Bill for Family Forest Owners?
08/11/2008
Mini-loan Program Helps Farmers Enroll in Conservation Practices
10/09/2007
Conservation Legislative Update
09/21/2006
Private Landowners Help a Rare Sunflower and Other North Carolina Plants and Animals
09/20/2006
Contribution Agreements Make Farm Bill Partnerships Go Farther
Success Stories
Utah Group Uses WHIP to Restore Sagebrush Rangelands
Utah ranchers are restoring sagebrush rangelands and helping rare wildlife with assistance from USDA's Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.
Rest Rotation Grazing System Benefits Land and Wildlife on Montana Ranch
Working with the NRCS's Tim Solberg and other government conservationists, rancher Kent Throntveit (right) developed a rest rotation grazing system and improved habitat.
Bog Turtles Make New Friends: Landowners and Livestock
America's tiniest turtle is getting a boost from landowners in the Northeast, who are using goats, sheep and cows to clear invasive vegetation from overgrown wetland meadows.
Tina Bachmann: Landowner and Turtle Farmer
In New Jersey, horse farmer Tina Bachmann wanted to restore wet meadow habitat where a thicket of weeds grew. Because doing so would create habitat for the threatened bog turtle, she received funding.

