The wildlife habitat incentives program : looking towards the future of conservation on agricultural lands
(Book - Regular Print)

Thesis,MSES,Green Mountain College,2010

Includes bibliographical references.

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a conservation program originally authorized in section 387 of the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. WHIP is a cost share assistance program aimed at incentivizing landowners to develop private land into protected wildlife habitat. This program has promising and positive goals, but many shortfalls and inefficiencies exist in its policies and execution. Current government regulation of agriculture is in part to blame for environmental degradation, insecurities in the food system, and a decreased quality of life for farmers. The goals and design concepts behind WHIP make it an ideal candidate to usher in a future where wildlife conservation, modern agriculture, sustainable human land use, and successful land management can function together in accord. Modifying programmatic aspects of WHIP will increase the efficiency of this program, and improvements will provide an overall benefit to the environment, the public, and the landowners it aims to assist.