MNAP Activities

• Ecological Inventory and Monitoring
• Communities, Plants, and Animals
• Maine's Ecological Reserve System
• Focus Areas
• Beginning with Habitat
• Landowner Incentive Program
• Technical Assistance
• Outreach

MNAP Information

• Overview and Mission
• Legislation
• FAQs
• Staff

Landowner Incentive Program (LIP)

Recent funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) has been awarded to Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP) and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) to establish a LIP in Maine. The LIP will help conserve habitat on private land to benefit rare plant and animal species by providing technical and financial assistance to landowners for habitat protection and restoration.

Building on the tremendous success of Beginning with Habitat (BwH), the Maine LIP has initiated the planning necessary to implement the recommendations developed by BwH and the State Wildlife Action Plan to conserve important habitats for rare, threatened, and endangered wildlife, plants, and natural communities in Maine. LIP funds are being used to initiate a landowner incentive program that offers a variety of tools to landowners for rare and endangered plants and wildlife habitat conservation, including funds for conservation easements, cooperative management agreements, and habitat management activities.

The program is funded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is administered by the MDIFW, and the MNAP facilitates outreach. MDIFW and MNAP staff convene the Maine LIP Steering Committee, which includes representation from MDIFW, MNAP, Maine Forest Service, Maine Department of Agriculture, USFWS Gulf of Maine Coastal Project , USFWS Maine Field Office, The Nature Conservancy, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and Maine Audubon. With wide representation across Maine's conservation community, the Steering Committee provides an important outreach and program coordination function.

Eligible Focus Areas for LIP funds

We are in the process of making Focus Area descriptions web accessible. If you would like a pdf copy of a Focus Area, please contact us.

You can also visit the Focus Area page to view a google earth map of Focus Areas across Maine.

• Beaver Dam Heath
• Biddeford/Kennebunkport Vernal Pool Complex
• Bold Coast
• Central Parsonsfield
• Corea Heath/Grand Marsh
• Georges River
• Great Wass Archipelago
• Greater Braveboat Harbor
• Kennebec Estuary (now includes Morse Mountain Focus Area which was previously eligible for LIP funds)
• Kennebunk Plains/Wells Barrens
• Killick Pond
• Lower Sheepscot River
• Massabesic Forest North
• Massabesic Forest South
• Mount Agamenticus
• Pleasant Bay
• St. John River
• Scarborough Marsh (now includes Crescent Beach/Ram Island Focus Area which was previously eligible for LIP funds)
• Unity Wetlands
• Upper Saco River
• Waterboro/Shapleigh Barrens

Application Process

As funds become available, the LIP Steering Committee will announce an open application period. Currently, all funds for the LIP Program have been allocated. Please check back often, as we anticipate further funding. You may also contact us for information.