Gainesville, FL. — Carlos Suarez, state conservationist for the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today announced that Florida has received $704,225 in funding for an initiative designed to help non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners to improve the health and extent of upland pine forest ecosystems. These funds are available through the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP).
Through this new USDA initiative, NRCS and its partners will help NIPF landowners in priority areas to voluntarily implement approved conservation practices that will help restore upland pine forest ecosystems. NIPF landowners must be willing to plant pine seedlings at a reduced stocking rate (< 500 seedlings per acre) in order to participate. Tree planting, firebreaks, prescribed burning, and forest site preparation are some of the approved conservation practices that will be eligible for cost share assistance.
The priority area in Florida reaches as far south as Lee, Glades, and Martin counties and extends northward throughout the rest of Florida. NIPF landowners can submit applications for this program at their local NRCS office until June 25, 2010. Approved landowners will receive a payment rate of 75% for installed conservation practices under this initiative.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service administers WHIP, a voluntary program for conservation-minded landowners who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat on agricultural land, nonindustrial private forest land, and Indian land. The WHIP program provides both technical and cost-share assistance.
For more information on this program visit the nearest USDA Service Center in your area or you may contact Kenneth Morgan, conservation program specialist at (352) 338-9545.
For information about other NRCS conservation programs visit: www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.