Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program offers opportunities to landowners to improve and protect wildlife habitat on private and Tribal lands. Persons interested in entering into a cost-share agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop wildlife habitat may file an application at any time. Participants voluntarily limit future use of the land for a period of time, but retain private ownership. In addition, NRCS works with the participant to develop a wildlife habitat development plan.

Projects in New Mexico have improved habitat on private land for elk, turkey, bear, shorebirds, grouse, desert bighorn sheep, and other species including the endangered willow flycatchers. The projects have emphasized the development of water supplies for wildlife, establishment of permanent flood plains, and fencing cattle out of creeks and ponds.

FY 2008 Application Sign-up Information

The legislation authorizing WHIP is due to expire on September 30, 2007.  NRCS will continue to accept applications.  However, until the 2007 Farm Bill is finalized into law the application and evaluation process cannot be completed.  At this time it is unknown if there will funding available for WHIP in FY 2008.

Please refer to the appropriate links for information on eligible practices, cost-share rates and ranking criteria.

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word.

NRCS-CPA-1200, Application and NRCS-CPA-1202, Contract Appendix (29KB)
NRCS-CPA-1200, Application and NRCS-CPA-1202, Spanish Version of Contract Appendix (32KB)
Ranking Criteria (130KB)

FY 2007 WHIP Cost Dockets

The following document requires Microsoft Excel.

FOTG 2007 WHIP Cost Docket

New Mexico Wildlife State Plan

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat.

WHIP New Mexico State Plan (131KB)

Contact

Michael Neubeiser
State Program Manager
(505) 761-4419
E-mail: Michael.Neubeiser@nm.usda.gov

Last Modified: 09/26/2007