Lesser Prairie-chicken Conservation Plan Landowner/Producer Sign-up Period Open
WAFWA accepting
applications through Feb. 28
applications through Feb. 28
Landowner/producers can apply to enroll their land in the Lesser
Prairie-chicken Conservation Program through Feb 28, according to the Western
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). Those with land in the Lesser
Prairie-chicken range willing to implement conservation practices beneficial to
Lesser Prairie-chickens are eligible. Landowner/producers who are accepted will
receive a sign-up incentive and payments for implementing conservation
practices designed to maximize the value of their property to Lesser
Prairie-chicken. Those practices include mechanical brush removal, prescribed
grazing, and establishment and management of planted native grass stands. Only
producers not currently enrolled in federal farm bill programs will be eligible
to apply for five- and 10-year contract options.
Prairie-chicken Conservation Program through Feb 28, according to the Western
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). Those with land in the Lesser
Prairie-chicken range willing to implement conservation practices beneficial to
Lesser Prairie-chickens are eligible. Landowner/producers who are accepted will
receive a sign-up incentive and payments for implementing conservation
practices designed to maximize the value of their property to Lesser
Prairie-chicken. Those practices include mechanical brush removal, prescribed
grazing, and establishment and management of planted native grass stands. Only
producers not currently enrolled in federal farm bill programs will be eligible
to apply for five- and 10-year contract options.
The WAFWA will rank applications based on their value to Lesser
Prairie-chickens and select the highest ranking offers for enrollment. Accepted
landowner/producers located in the high-priority locations can receive payments
of up to 125 percent of the estimated cost of implementing the conservation
plan. If the species becomes federally listed, participating producers will be
exempt from the take prohibition of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) if the
take occurs while implementing the practices prescribed in their conservation
plan. Producers who are interested in the program should contact their
local state wildlife agency office for more details or to complete an
application.
Prairie-chickens and select the highest ranking offers for enrollment. Accepted
landowner/producers located in the high-priority locations can receive payments
of up to 125 percent of the estimated cost of implementing the conservation
plan. If the species becomes federally listed, participating producers will be
exempt from the take prohibition of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) if the
take occurs while implementing the practices prescribed in their conservation
plan. Producers who are interested in the program should contact their
local state wildlife agency office for more details or to complete an
application.
After the sign-up period is complete, the WAFWA will also be
developing similar conservation plans for producers who just want to be
exempted from the take prohibitions of the ESA. The management prescriptions in
these plans won’t be as conservative, and landowners won’t receive payment for
implementing them. However, if the species is listed, any take that occurs
while implementing the prescribed practices will be exempt from the take
prohibitions of the ESA. Producers interested in this type of conservation
plan should also contact their local state wildlife agency.
developing similar conservation plans for producers who just want to be
exempted from the take prohibitions of the ESA. The management prescriptions in
these plans won’t be as conservative, and landowners won’t receive payment for
implementing them. However, if the species is listed, any take that occurs
while implementing the prescribed practices will be exempt from the take
prohibitions of the ESA. Producers interested in this type of conservation
plan should also contact their local state wildlife agency.
The WAFWA consists of 23 state and provincial wildlife agencies
that have primary responsibility and authority for protecting and managing fish
and wildlife in the western United States and Canada. The state wildlife
agencies in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado are members of
the WAFWA. Through the WAFWA, those five state wildlife agencies worked
cooperatively over the last two years to produce the Lesser Prairie-chicken
Range-wide Conservation Plan (RWP) as a means to preclude a federal listing of
the species under the ESA. On October 23, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) endorsed the RWP as “a comprehensive conservation plan that
reflects sound conservation design and strategy that, when implemented, will
provide a net conservation benefit to the Lesser Prairie-chicken.” To date, the
RWP is the only plan that has been endorsed by the USFWS and is the only
pathway that has the potential to lead to a not warranted final decision. The
amount of voluntary enrollment in the RWP will likely weigh heavily into the
final listing decision that must be announced by the end of March.
that have primary responsibility and authority for protecting and managing fish
and wildlife in the western United States and Canada. The state wildlife
agencies in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado are members of
the WAFWA. Through the WAFWA, those five state wildlife agencies worked
cooperatively over the last two years to produce the Lesser Prairie-chicken
Range-wide Conservation Plan (RWP) as a means to preclude a federal listing of
the species under the ESA. On October 23, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) endorsed the RWP as “a comprehensive conservation plan that
reflects sound conservation design and strategy that, when implemented, will
provide a net conservation benefit to the Lesser Prairie-chicken.” To date, the
RWP is the only plan that has been endorsed by the USFWS and is the only
pathway that has the potential to lead to a not warranted final decision. The
amount of voluntary enrollment in the RWP will likely weigh heavily into the
final listing decision that must be announced by the end of March.
This map depicts
the area of eligibility for the WAFWA lesser prairie chicken conservation
program. Offers received from focal areas and connectivity zones will receive
higher priority in the application process.
the area of eligibility for the WAFWA lesser prairie chicken conservation
program. Offers received from focal areas and connectivity zones will receive
higher priority in the application process.