Photo provided by USDA NRCS North Dakota
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $52 million in 19 projects to increase public access to private lands for wildlife-dependent recreation while benefiting farmers, ranchers and private landowners. Through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is helping state and tribal governments encourage private landowners to allow public access to their land for hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent recreation.
“As the Chief of NRCS, one of my top priorities is to expand wildlife conservation and outdoor access; the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program is a key part of our strategy to execute that priority,” said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley. “This program – made possible by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act – prioritizes farmers and ranchers while strengthening rural economies through support of wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation. These projects encourage landowners to allow the public to access their land for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation.”
The Working Families Tax Cuts Act restored funding for VPA-HIP, enabling NRCS to offer the competitive grant program for state and tribal governments.
A few examples of projects include:
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement Program: Continues an existing VPA-HIP project that provides financial incentives to rice producers near select wildlife management areas and national wildlife refuges to increase public waterfowl hunting access on private rice fields and wetland reserve easements while improving wildlife habitat. This program helps retain, recruit and reactivate hunters and wildlife-related recreationists while providing incentive payments to rice farmers.
- Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters: Expands this Montana program that provides access for walk-in game bird hunters on acres enrolled in USDA conservation programs and other high-quality game bird habitats. Montana has ample resident and visiting game hunters, and this sport brings critical revenue to rural communities while providing incentive payments to participating landowners.
- North Dakota Department of Game and Fish’s Private Lands Open to Sportsmen (PLOTS): Expands PLOTS, which provides walk-in hunting access statewide on lands participating in USDA programs. A one-time, up-front incentive payment is made to the landowner for each year their property will be in the PLOTS program, usually the years remaining in their USDA contract.
See a list of all projects here.
Projects are up to three years. Selected projects will receive from $1.5 to $3 million in funding. Project sponsors can use up to 25% of funds to provide incentives to landowners to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled public access program lands.
USDA NRCS news release
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