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Natural
Resources Conservation Service 220 Davidson
Ave., 4th Floor Somerset, NJ 08873
Enhancing
Wildlife Habitat on Private Lands The Wildlife Habitat
Incentives Program (WHIP) has been popular with landowners in New Jersey
interested in wildlife habitat management since its inception in 1998. The
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides both technical
assistance and financial assistance to establish and improve fish and
wildlife habitat on non-federal land through this program. Over $2.5 million in funding
has been secured through WHIP for wildlife projects across New Jersey.
Habitat management practices such as native grass restoration, brush
management and prescribed burning have been implemented in the Raritan
Basin to benefit grassland species such as the grasshopper sparrow,
bobolink Northern harrier, Eastern wild turkey, ring-necked pheasant and
more. Additional areas have been enhanced for bog turtle and other
species. Landowners are eligible to
participate in WHIP if they own or have control of the land under
consideration and if the land is eligible to receive farmland tax
assessment rates. Land is ineligible if it is currently enrolled in
another USDA Farm Bill conservation program such as the Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP) or the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) or if it is
used for mitigation. NRCS conservationists and
biologists work with WHIP participants to create a wildlife habitat
development plan to identify their wildlife goals, and list habitat
improvement practices and a schedule for implementation. Based on this
plan, the landowner will enter into a cost-share contract with NRCS that
will last from 5 to 10 years. Payments are made after a practice is
installed, and landowners agree to maintain all installed practices for
the life of the contract. NRCS conducts annual reviews with the landowners
during the life of the contract to monitor practice success or failure and
determine if plan modifications are needed. Applications for WHIP from
individual landowners are accepted by NRCS Service Centers at any time
during the year, but application periods are set to facilitate project
selection and awarding of contracts. The current application period for
individual contracts will close June 1, 2007. WHIP applications should be
submitted either in person or by mail to the USDA Service Center that
serves the county in which the property is situated. Application materials
and program information are available online at www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip. Information about
Partnership Contracts can also be found at that website. Agencies or
groups interested in partnering with NRCS to create or enhance habitat for
target species and habitat types may apply for Partnership Contracts.
Applications submitted by December 22, 2006, will be considered for 2007
contracts. The USDA-NRCS offices serving Raritan Basin communities are located at 101 Bilby Road, Building 1-H, Hackettstown 07840, phone (908) 852-2576 X 3 (serving Morris, Sussex, & Warren Counties); 687 Pittstown Road, Suite 2, Frenchtown 08825, phone (908) 782-4614X3 (serving Hunterdon, Somerset & Union Counties); 4000 Kozloski Road, Suite D, P. O. Box 5033, Freehold 07728, phone (732) 462-0075X3 (serving Mercer, Middlesex & Monmouth Counties).
Article by: Janice
Reid, Acting State Conservationist |
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