Landowner Incentive Program
Program History and Authorization

In 2003, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources received funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to develop the foundation of the Landowner Incentive Program. LIP held its first Request for Proposals in spring of 2006.

Program Development

Since September 2004, LIP has relied upon a Guidance Team of agency and non-governmental organizations familiar with the resources of the state and existing cost-share programs for private lands to develop the program. The Guidance Team includes individuals from the following organizations:

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• Environmental Defense
• Gathering Waters Conservancy (an umbrella organization for Wisconsin Land Trusts)
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association
• The Nature Conservancy
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• University of Wisconsin
• University of Wisconsin Extension
• Door County Land Trust

The Guidance Team used information from the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan or WWAP (formerly the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan) that was then under development. The WAP is a statewide effort to identify the animal species (including invertebrates) that are in greatest need of conservation. The species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) list includes all of the animal species currently listed as threatened or endangered at the state or and federal level, as well as other species that often "fall between the cracks" for funding and conservation attention. The resulting plan presents priority conservation actions to protect these species and their habitats and will play an important role in guiding LIP.

Based on these species, the Guidance Team also identified two program elements that a) are not addressed or not adequately addressed by existing cost-share programs and b) have high biodiversity values on private lands that would benefit from LIP. Both of these areas provide significant opportunities to improve rare species habitat on private lands due to the nature of the resource and the work of conservation organizations. Local and national conservation organizations are active in both program elements and their outreach and education with private landowners will be a valuable asset to promoting LIP and ensuring its success. The two program elements are:

1. Prairie and Savanna Habitat, and
2. Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape

Administrative Rule

In order for the Wisconsin DNR to administer the program and begin providing financial assistance to landowners, the program had to develop and promulgate an administrative rule. The administrative rule process began in January 2005 with discussions with the Guidance Team and DNR legal staff to revise an existing administrative rule to include the Landowner Incentive Program. The process also involved presentations to the DNR’s Natural Resources Board, public notice to receive comments on the proposed changes, a public hearing and a legislative hearing with the State Assembly’s Committee on Natural Resources. The administrative rule (exit DNR) for the program became effective in March 2006.

Program Timeline

To date, Wisconsin’s LIP has currently held two requests for proposals:

May 2008 - November 14, 2008: LIP will accept Pre-Proposal Letters of Interest. Letters of Interest may be submitted via the web using our online form, or via hard copy which may be obtained from the LIP Coordinator.

November 14, 2008: Pre-proposal Letter of Interest due date. Please note that a pre-proposal MUST be submitted and approved by this date to be considered for Fall 2008 funding.

Mid December, 2008: Pre-proposal applicants will be notified of the results and successful applicants invited to submit a full proposal by January 16, 2009.

January 16, 2009: Deadline for LIP proposals.

April 1, 2009: Earliest possible LIP project Start Date (for planning purposes).