Assistance Available to NJ Farmers and Forest Landowners to Protect Two Species

bog turtle

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is informing the public about a program providing technical and financial assistance to support habitat for the bog turtle and golden-winged warbler in New Jersey.

The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Working Lands for Wildlife Partnership (WLFW) connects federal assistance with farmers and forest landowners to restore and protect priority habitat areas.  It is offered as part of the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (see http://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip/ for information).

golden-winged warbler

The WLFW was developed by USDA with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help America's farmers continue to work their land, while ensuring the recovery of "at-risk species" that would benefit from targeted habitat restoration. In return for voluntarily making habitat improvements on their lands, the federal government will provide landowners with regulatory certainty that they will not be asked to take additional conservation actions.

Applications submitted to NRCS by Friday, April 19, 2013, will be considered for funding this year.

For a map showing the priority areas and for additional information about this program, visit the NRCS website at http://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip/WLFW.html.

A NRCS news release regarding this program can be viewed on their website at http://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/news/newsrelease.html#Forest_Landowners_can_help_improve_habitat .