Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop or improve wildlife habitat on private lands. It provides both technical assistance and cost sharing to help establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat.

How WHIP Works

Landowners agree to prepare and implement a wildlife habitat development plan. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to implement the wildlife habitat restoration practices.

Each state develops a program implementation plan including state objectives, wildlife priorities, partnership involvement, an explanation of the ranking process and criteria, and a process for measuring success of the program. 

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat.

State WHIP Plan (100 kb)

Top of Page

Cost-Share Assistance

NRCS provides the technical assistance with cost-share payments used to establish, maintain, or replace wildlife habitat practices. Cost-sharing will reimburse up to 75 percent of costs. Federal or State wildlife agencies or private organizations may provide additional funding or expertise to help complete a project. Generally the total cost share cannot exceed $15,000 per contract. The cost-share agreement normally lasts a minimum of 10 years from the date the contract is signed. Under the agreement, the landowner agrees to maintain the cost-shared practices and allow NRCS access to monitor the effectiveness of the practices.

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat for viewing and/or printing.

2007 Practices eligible for WHIP cost-share funding

Top of Page

What Land is Eligible?

Generally, five acres is the minimum contract size. However, exceptional sites less than five acres may be enrolled. Almost any type of land may be eligible, including:

• agricultural or non-agricultural land
• woodlots
• pasture land
• stream banks

Land that was not eligible for other habitat restoration programs may be eligible for WHIP. To participate in WHIP, you must own or have control of the land under consideration.

What Land is Not Eligible?

Land currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, or other similar program is not eligible. Land is also ineligible if it is used for mitigation, if the site is owned by the Federal Government, or if USDA determines that onsite or offsite conditions would undermine or reduce the benefits of habitat development.

Top of Page

Ohio Priorities

WHIP applications will be evaluated based on Ohio wildlife habitat priorities. Requests are scored on a number of factors, including type of habitat to be established, size, proximity to other wildlife areas, location within designated priority area, and cost.

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat

WHIP Priority Counties FY-2007 map
WHIP 2007 Ranking Form

In Ohio, WHIP is emphasizing re-establishment of habitat for declining species - wetland and grassland dependent birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects and small mammals. Applications which increase wooded riparian corridors and improve habitat for state and federally listed threatened, rare and endangered aquatic species are encouraged.

Top of Page

How to Apply

Interested landowners may contact the local Natural Resources Conservation Service office to submit an application and to have a site evaluation form completed.

For More Information

For more information about WHIP contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for program information and announcements or visit the NRCS at the link below.

• National program information, fact sheets, and other information

Program Contact

Assistant State Conservationist for Programs
Tom Perrin
Phone: 614-255-2474
 

< Back to Programs