Iowa DNR has grants available for protected species habitat

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is looking for private landowners wanting to take part in a program to protect habitat critical to plant or animal species listed as threatened or endangered. Kelly Smith is the coordinator of the Landowner Incentive Program (LIP), which has 300-thousand dollars in federal money to give out as grants.She says they want to create a habitat protection plan to include all federally listed protected species and selected species on the Iowa protected list. She says talks about the goals of the plan. She says they want to work with landowners to create a plan and educate them about what’s on their land and their neighbor’s land. Smith says the scope and size of the plans will vary.She says it’ll depend on each individual landowner as to whether it’s an extensive plan or just one practice. She says they’re looking for Iowans who’re willing to take part. She says any landowner who’s interested in improving the habitat on their ground is eligible, as it’s not linked to any agricultural program. Smith says the program could work in almost any area of the state.She says a lot of the endangered species are in fragmented areas and they need to find those areas and work on them. For more on the program surf to the wildlife page on www.iowadnr.com, then click on the private lands management link. Or contact Smith at 515-281-6247.