Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program 

The current cut-off date for WHIP applications is February 1, 2010. Applications are accepted year-round, but are ranked and funded once each year.

The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program that provides technical and financial assistance to people who want to improve fish and wildlife habitat or restore natural ecosystems on their land. 

NRCS will provide compensation for part of the cost of establishing and maintaining conservation practices that are necessary for enhancing and improving wildlife habitat and restoring natural ecosystems. 

Many ecosystems, plants and animals across Massachusetts have benefitted from WHIP assistance. Two examples of Massachusetts WHIP projects include a salt marsh restoration at Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary and an invasive plant removal project in New Salem.

• Please contact your local NRCS office to start the planning and application process.
• Current application materials, payment rates and ranking criteria are posted on the application materials & documents page.
• To find out how WHIP works in Massachusetts, please read the Massachusetts WHIP state plan. (Acrobat Reader is required for this document.)

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