Landowner Incentive Program
Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I Apply?
• What land is eligible for LIP funding?
• What is an at-risk species?
• What are the priority areas?
• How are applicants chosen?
• What is a cost-share program?
• What is match?
• What does LIP pay for?
• What are LIP's objectives?
• Do I have to allow public access to receive funding?
• What is the minimum size (in acres) of a project?
• What is the maximum amount one can apply for?
• Where do I get help for developing plan, techniques, etc…?
• Are lands in MFL, CRP, WHIP, and other programs eligible?
• Are Research and Monitoring projects eligible?
• What is the outlook for long term funding and what is Wisconsin DNR’s commitment to landowners?
• What are the landowner's obligations to receive funding?
• If my project is approved, what types of restrictions go with the program?
• What is in the LIP Contract, what are the key components, what will I be signing?
• Are costs incurred before I am accepted or after the end of my funded grant period eligible for reimbursement? (surveys, plan development, additional costs, etc…)
• Can overhead or indirect charges be included as cost to be reimbursed? What about overhead or indirect donated as In-kind?
• How are LIP funds distributed?

How do I apply?
You may apply for LIP funding via this website; please refer to the Timeline section for upcoming RFP dates. There are two steps in the application process: A pre-proposal and full proposal. A pre-proposal includes basic information about your project idea and location and must be submitted to be considered for funding. If your preproposal is approved, you will be invited to submit a full proposal which includes budget information, project objectives, and evaluation benchmarks.

Online submission is the preferred application method. If you don't own a computer, most town libraries provide computer resources. The LIP coordinator may also provide you with a hard copy of the application, but be sure to contact her ahead of time to assure that that you receive a current version of the application and that the application is received before the submission deadline. Please refer to the web page often as it is updated with new information and further help for applicants.

What land is eligible for LIP funding?
Any land that is not publicly owned is eligible, including traditional private parcels, Land Trust Holdings, NGO easement properties or facilitated projects, and community groups. Projects that restore or enhance habitat on private land for the benefit of at-risk species are eligible. Eligible projects under LIP may include, but are not limited to, conducting prescribed burns, planting native vegetation, and removing invasive and woody species.

What is an at-risk species?
Wisconsin’s at-risk species are those that are considered rare in the state. These include species listed as:

• Endangered or Threatened at the state or federal level
• State Special Concern Species
• Species of Greatest Conservation Need

What are the priority areas?
Priority Areas are areas for which LIP has funding to implement the program and currently only includes the Driftless Area.

Current LIP Priority Area:
Wisconsin's Driftless Area refers to the southwest portion of the state that escaped glaciation during the last ice age. It is a subsection of the Prairie and Savanna Habitat priority area from past cycles. The region is is characterized by highly dissected uplands with deeply cut valleys and contains some of the highest quality remnants of Oak Savanna, Prairies, forests, and streams remaining in the upper Midwest states. This region provides habitat for plant and animal species that are either unique to this area or at the limits of their ranges.

Other LIP Areas:
Prairie and Savanna Habitat that is found in the southwestern 2/3 of the state. Only about 500 acres of oak savanna and 8,000 acres of original prairie remain. The remaining habitat may be the last refuge for many prairie and savanna plants, birds, and other animals.

Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Habitat that includes coastal wetlands, dune habitat, and other habitat for at-risk species occurring on private land. This landscape also includes the Door County Peninsula, which harbors one of the highest concentrations of rare species in the state. Many of these species and natural communities are uncommon or nonexistent elsewhere in Wisconsin and throughout the US.

How are applicants chosen?
Applicants are chosen by the LIP Guidance Team using a list of Ranking Criteria to best judge the project's overall benefit to species-at-risk.

What is a cost-share program?
A cost-share program is a program in which one entity (in this case the landowner or Wisconsin DNR) does not incur the total cost of a project. The LIP Program is a 75-25 cost share program, which means that Wisconsin DNR will reimburse the landowner up to 75% of the cost for the on-the-ground practices that are involved in the management of the project. The landowner is required to contribute the matching percentage.

What is match?
"Match" refers to the percentage of the project that the landowner is required to contribute in order to "earn" the state share. For LIP, match can be a financial (cash) contribution - like paying for part of the supplies or labor, or can be an "in-kind" contribution, where the landowner may choose to take on some of the labor him/herself, or by contributing his/her own equipment. Other money contributed to the work may be used as match, so long as it is NOT derived from federal funds. The landowner can offer to match more than the 25%, which will rank the application higher.

Donated labor, supplies or equipment as part of the landowner match are subject to the following provisions:

1. All sources of the landowner match must be indicated in the grant application, although revisions are possible within the grant period.
2. The hourly value of general donated labor is $12 per hour.
3. The value of donated materials shall conform to standard LIP or market rates.

What does LIP pay for?
The LIP Program will reimburse for costs that are essential to meet the objectives defined in the grant agreement and are needed to achieve the desired result. All costs must be supported by source documentation or other records as necessary to substantiate the funds. Only costs incurred during an active grant are eligible - i.e., LIP cannot reimburse for past expenses.

Examples of eligible (but not limited to) enhancements and/or practices:

Mowing, brush control clearing of trees, control of invasive plants (mechanical and chemical), fencing for habitat protection, prescribed burning, seeding, woodland improvements (cutting or girdling of low habitat value trees), planting of native plant species, and other aspects of natural community restoration benefiting at-risk-species.

Please note that LIP will not pay for building ponds or for planting yards and gardens.

What are LIP's objectives?

1. To provide technical and financial assistance to landowners for voluntary conservation initiatives
2. Maintain and enhance habitat for "at-risk species"
3. Prevent new species from becoming "listed" (as endangered or threatened), by timely habitat or population enhancement on private lands, as well as contribute to the recovery of already listed species.

Do I have to allow public access to receive funding?
Public access is not required.

What is the minimum size (in acres) of a project?
For the LIP Program, more emphasis is placed on landscape context than on the size of the site, therefore there is no minimum or maximum limit to the project size. For example, a 3 acre bluff prairie located in close proximity to several other bluff prairie remnants may be a competitive LIP project, whereas a 3 acre property surrounded by corn or mowed yards may not.

What is the maximum amount one can apply for?
In general, projects may request funding between $2,500 and $25,000. However, the eligible request amounts may vary from year to year based on funding availability, and will be specified in the annual application materials

Where do I get help for developing a management plan?
It is not required to hire a professional to develop a management plan for your property. Some Management Plans can be very simple. The Landowner Incentive Program can assist you in developing a management plan and objectives for your property, as will some land trusts, NGOs, consulting firms, and contractors. Be aware that some of these sources may charge for this service. You may also view some examples and a template to get started on your own through the LIP resources page. You may contact LIP staff throughout the process for questions on techniques, or where to find information for your plan.

You do not need to have a completed management plan in place prior to applying to LIP. If your project is selected, LIP will work with you to develop a management plan before the project begins.

Are lands in MFL, CRP, CREP, WHIP, and other programs eligible?
In many cases, LIP is able to partner with the efforts of these programs depending on the nature of the work involved. It is critical however, that you first check with the program's administrator or local forester or biologist to be certain that the management practices you are proposing for LIP funds are compatible with the contract or agreement you may have with these other programs. LIP cannot pay for practices already covered by an agreement with another program. Lands enrolled in CRP are not eligible for LIP funding. However, lands adjacent to CRP may be eligible for LIP.

Are Research and Monitoring projects eligible?
LIP funding cannot be used for research or monitoring. Monitoring can be included as a match activity if it is necessary and reasonable to accomplish the project objectives and within the grant agreement period. LIP is an implementation grant for active habitat management so monitoring should be a complementary component of the total proposal.

What is the outlook for long term funding and what is Wisconsin DNR’s commitment to landowners?
LIP is administered by the Wisconsin DNR, although program staff and landowner awards are entirely dependant on external funding (grants, gifts, etc) to operate. Openings for LIP applications are determined annually based on the amount of landowner funding available. Once your project is funded, the full amount for all years of the funded grant period will be guaranteed.

What are the landowner's obligations to receive funding?
If the LIP proposal is approved for funding, the landowner will sign a contract to keep the LIP Project Area in the same land use for not less than 10 years. The work must be completed in the agreed-to grant period. The commitment the landowner is making is to only keep the LIP Project Area in the same land use. The landowner is not required to expend funds or labor beyond what is outlined in the LIP grant agreement.

At the time you receive your grant agreement, you will also receive information on financial administration of your project, what to do if your project requires changes, and how to request reimbursement of project expenditures. You should maintain good records and documentation (receipts, work history, etc). Your financial records must be kept and made available if requested for inspection for up to 3 years after receiving final grant payment.

An annual report survey will be filled out during each year of the funded grant period, and a final report is required before final payment can be issued. Both of these reports are provided in a Question and Answer format by the LIP program prior to their due dates.

If my project is approved, what types of restrictions go with the program?
The applicant is required to comply with all relevant federal and state statutes and regulations in executing their project. The landowner also agrees to maintain the land in its restored state for 10 years following the completion of work.

What is in the LIP Contract, what are the key components, what will I be signing?
The LIP Contract is a legal agreement between the Wisconsin DNR and the private landowner. In some cases, a separate cost-share recipient may also sign the agreement. The grant agreement defines the scope and schedule of services for the funded period, project budget, and project objectives that have been identified and agreed upon prior to signing. It is a legally binding agreement which the landowner signs showing their commitment to keep the parcel in the continued land use for a minimum 10 years. The agreement is kept as an index filed with the Registry of Deeds.

Are costs incurred before I am accepted or after the end of my funded grant period eligible for reimbursement? (surveys, plan development, additional costs, etc…)
No, costs will not be reimbursed or considered as in-kind under the grant if they are incurred before the grant agreement is signed or after the funded grant period has expired. All practices must be within the funded grant period.

Can overhead or indirect charges be included as cost to be reimbursed? What about overhead or indirect donated as in-kind (examples - office rental, phone or internet charges, accounting charges)?
No. LIP will not allow overhead to be reimbursed as a cost or used as in-kind match. Staff time may be considered eligible if it is tracked with regards to hours spent directly working on the grant objectives.

How are LIP funds distributed?
LIP funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis and in accordance with the agreed to cost-share percentage. The submitted match will be used to calculate the eligible reimbursement payment. All project expenditures must be made in accordance with the funded grant period dates specified in the grant agreement. Successful applicants will be provided with written guidance and on how to keep financial records to be eligible for reimbursement and may work with the program coordinator if additional assistance is needed.

Note: If the application is submitted on behalf of a landowner, funds will be awarded to the landowner unless the applicant holds a legal interest in the property such as an easement, signed agreement transferring management authority, or other binding, documented agreement.

See LIP Documents for example requests and forms.