MSC News

MSC News National Headlines Sports Top Headlines CBS US News CBS Technology

Lesser-Prairie Chicken Conservation

By Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

02/12/2014

Kansas landowner/producers can receive sign-up incentives and payments for implementing grassland conservation practices that benefit lesser prairie-chickens. The application deadline to enroll land in the Lesser-prairie Chicken Conservation Program is Feb. 28, according to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). Landowner/producers with land in the lesser prairie-chicken range are eligible to apply, and those who are accepted will receive payments for implementing conservation practices such as mechanical brush removal, prescribed grazing, and establishment and management of planted native grass stands. Only producers not currently enrolled in federal farm bill programs are eligible to apply for five- and 10-year contract options.

Applications will be ranked by the WAFWA based on their value to lesser prairie-chickens. 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.

Interested landowner/producers should contact the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s Region 1 office in Hays, 785-628-8614 for more information and enrollment application forms.

You will need to be logged in to leave a comment.

Please Login

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.

Click here to review our Terms of Use.