USDA PROVIDES WILDLIFE HABITAT RECOVERY HELP FOR LANDS DAMAGED BY DROUGHT AND FIRE

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today encouraged landowners whose property has been damaged or destroyed by fire or impacted by drought conditions to apply for assistance through USDA's Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP).

"This program will provide assistance to landowners for habitat damage caused by fire and drought," said Veneman. "We continue to examine every available program to help those who have suffered from disasters."

Through WHIP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps landowners who wish to improve wildlife habitat conditions on their property. By providing technical expertise and up to 75 percent of the cost of implementing habitat improvement practices, NRCS can help landowners who wish to help their lands recover from habitat damage.

NRCS can enter into one-year wildlife emergency agreements to help landowners meet the immediate habitat needs of wildlife affected by these natural disasters. Efforts may include planting native seeds and forbs, leaving food plots within existing fields, establishing buffers and stabilizing steep slopes.

Standard five- to 10-year WHIP agreements are available to help landowners implement wildlife habitat practices where natural processes have been compromised. Efforts may include installing water delivery systems, restoring natural landscape features, planting native shrubs and trees, and other wildlife habitat development practices that benefit targeted species.

NRCS may provide increased cost-share assistance for long-term agreements to help landowners create long lasting habitat for especially vulnerable wildlife species.

In the recently enacted 2002 Farm Bill, Congress authorized up to $15 million for fiscal year 2002 and an additional $30 million for fiscal year 2003 for WHIP.

For more information about WHIP and other conservation programs, please contact your local USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or your local conservation district. Information also is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.usda.gov/farmbill .

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