On March 11, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is awarding nearly $49 million in grants to states and tribal governments through the Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). Each state and tribal government receiving a grant will use the funding to encourage private landowners to allow public access to their properties for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-related activities. With $50 million allocated to the program in the recent 2018 Farm Bill, states and tribal governments were given an opportunity to apply for funding in late 2019. Following the competitive application period, 27 recipients in 27 states have received grant funding ranging in size from approximately $500,000 to the maximum award of $3 million.
First included in the 2008 Farm Bill, VPA-HIP is a conservation program managed by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Unlike other Farm Bill conservation programs, private landowners are not eligible to apply directly for funding from NRCS. Instead, states receiving VPA-HIP grants use the funding in their own programs designed to encourage private landowners to voluntarily allow public access on their properties in exchange for annual incentive payments. States can also use funds to incentivize wildlife habitat improvement projects on private lands through cost-share or increased incentive payments. Each project can vary depending on the specific wildlife habitat and recreational access needs.
Providing adequate public access opportunities for sportsmen and women is a major challenge, especially in states that are predominantly comprised of privately-owned lands. Though many hunters and anglers do have access to private lands, surveys conducted by Responsive Management reported that 46% of hunters cited a lack of access as something that restricts their enjoyment of hunting and influences their decision not to hunt. Given the contributions of sportsmen and women to both the American System of Conservation Funding and local economies, addressing access issues is of upmost importance.
Providing recreational public access on private lands is crucial for many sportsmen and women who do not have access to private lands for hunting and fishing. CSF will continue to work with legislators, agency officials, and our conservation partners to promote this, and other important Farm Bill conservation programs.
For more information on the Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program, check out the NRCS’s website here. For details on the states receiving awards, click here.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
