United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Alaska Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content
 Picture of Donnelly Dome



Funding Available to Private Landowners for Voluntary Conservation

Cost-Share Funds Help Alaskans Address Natural Resource Concerns

Palmer, November 20, 2006 – State Conservationist Bob Jones today announced that nearly $6.5 million in cost-share assistance is expected to be available in fiscal year 2007 to help Alaska landowners address natural resource concerns, promote environmental quality, and protect valuable wetland ecosystems and wildlife habitat on property they own or control.

While the exact amount of funds available will not be known until a federal budget is signed into law, Jones says he estimates to make available nearly $6.5 million – or about the same amount as last year.

The cost-share funds are available to Alaskans through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), two programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Signed EQIP and WHIP application forms for FY07 financial assistance are due in an NRCS field office by January 31. NRCS has field offices in Anchorage, Bethel, Copper Center, Delta Junction, Dillingham, Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Kenai, Kodiak, Nome, Palmer and Wasilla. Contact information for the 13 field offices in Alaska is available at www.ak.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/fieldoffices.html, or by calling 907-761-7760.

WHIP helps landowners create, restore and enhance wildlife habitat on their land.  WHIP is expected to provide $1.5 million in cost share assistance in FY07.

EQIP assists landowners in improving soil, air and water quality and other related resources on private, working lands.  Working lands are those that are managed to produce food and/or fiber from eligible animal and plant sources.  In FY07, the EQIP program is expected to provide $5 million in available financial assistance.

Additional information on these conservation programs, including eligibility requirements, is available at http://www.ak.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.  Landowners who want specific information regarding program participation or who want to apply for cost share programs are encouraged to contact their local NRCS Field Office. 

The Natural Resources Conservation Service puts nearly 70 years of experience to work in assisting people to conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. NRCS works in partnership with local conservation districts serves almost every county in the nation, and the Caribbean and Pacific Basin. Participation in our programs is voluntary.

< Back to News Releases