The Landowner Incentive Program in southern Michigan concentrates on creating or maintaining habitat for grassland and wetland wildlife.

Potential projects include:

• Prairie plantings and prescribed burns to restore savanna and grassland habitat.
• Wetland restorations by ditch plugging or tile breaks.
• Invasive species management (i.e. removal, herbicide application, etc.)

Ineligible projects include:

• Forest management.
• Planting non-native species.
• Digging fish ponds

Southwest Lower Peninsula LIP Biologists can provide advice on most projects that are greater than 12 acres and fall within priority areas (see list below). Projects outside the priority areas that provide a direct benefit to a LIP target species within the focus habitats or are greater than 40 acres may be eligible for assistance.

Applying for assistance is easy. Simply complete and submit a Wildlife Habitat Management Assistance Request form. Questions? Contact Chris Hoving, LIP Biologist, at 269-685-6851 ext. 142 or via e-mail at hovingc@michigan.gov.

Priority Area Townships

Priority area townships in the Southwest Lower Peninsula.
Click on the image to enlarge.