Durham, NH (April 26, 2012) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with the U.S.
Department of the Interior- Fish and Wildlife Service have announced funding
for a new Working Lands for Wildlife partnership, which provides funds to
private landowners to enhance shrubland habitat for several declining
wildlife species including the New England Cottontail.
Working Lands for Wildlife is a targeted conservation effort in the
Merrimack Valley (Derry, Londonderry, Litchfield, Pelham, Hudson, Merrimack,
Windham) and the Seacoast area (Lee, Barrington, Dover, Durham, Madbury, and
Rollinsford). The most applicable sites have fertile soils which were once
in agricultural production and have reverted into mid-aged forests with poor
quality timber. The typical prescription is to remove trees in order to
benefit understory shrubs at a scale of 10-50 acres. In addition to the New
England Cottontail, these areas are also important for several game species
such as ruffed grouse, deer, and woodcock as well as several species of
migratory song birds.
Applications are accepted anytime, but the application ranking cut-off for
current funds is April 30, 2012.
For Hillsboro County please call: NRCS District Conservationist Chad
Cochrane at 603-673-2409 ext. 101.
For Strafford and Rockingham Counties, please call NRCS-District
Conservationist Dan Wright at 603-679-1587 ext. 110.
