FREE Status of State Natural Area Programs report
(while supplies last). Email NAA to request a book or CD.
The Natural Areas Association welcome page.
Renew your membership or become a new member.
You can make a difference; donate online, quickly and securely.
Learn about our conferences and workshops, including speakers and field trips.
Natural Area Conference.
The Natural Areas Journal is published quarterly.
The Natural Area News is a periodic publication of NAA.
Status of State Natural Area Programs.
See what’s available; order online.
Job postings from the conservation community and other linked organizations.
Connect to other members of the conservation community.
Connect with others who are concerned with the protection/stewardship of natural areas.
Communicate with NAA.


Frequently asked questions


What is the Natural Areas Association?
The NAA is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing support and information services to persons and institutions concerned with the protection and stewardship of natural areas. NAA is a vital resource for those involved in planning, development and/or management of natural area and natural heritage policies and programs.

What IS a natural area?

A natural area is land that is especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity and is specifically managed to preserve ecological communities, including rare plants and animals. Natural areas are typically publicly owned conservation land, although not all publicly owned conservation land would qualify as natural areas (BLM grazing lands for example). NAA further defines a "natural area" as a legally dedicated area that has been recognized for its natural significance and is protected by law.

How is NAA funded?
The NAA is funded primarily through membership dues, well-attended conferences, grants, and individual or agency donations. Individual donations as well as sponsorships are an integral part of the services and programs that we provide. Our published report: Status of State Natural Area Programs was largely funded by a generous individual donor. And the State Natural Areas Roundtable is made possible in large part through sponsorships by various state agencies: natural areas programs, departments of natural resources and environmental conservation.

What are the goals of the Natural Areas Association?

  1. Advance the techniques of natural area preservation for the benefit of society.

  2. Exchange and coordinate information on natural areas.

  3. Formulate and adopt statements of policy on matters relating to natural areas.

  4. Promote public understanding and appreciation of natural areas.

  5. Encourage and support research relating to natural areas.


How is the NAA different from other conservation organizations?

NAA is the only organization whose focus is on natural areas, including the people who manage them and the programs that create them. Yet people throughout the greater environmental conservation community also benefit from our programs and services.

NAA members come from government, academia, and private non-profits. NAA membership ranges from the manager of a single park to the staff of state-wide or national programs. The goal of NAA is to collect the varied expertise of its members and apply it toward protecting natural areas and creating, sustaining, or improving natural area programs in every state. Therefore the NAA is a primary and centralized resource for natural areas information and services.

How does NAA protect natural areas?

What NAA does is identify deficiencies in natural areas protection and provide assistance to correct these problems. NAA does not own or directly protect any individual natural area. NAA assistance includes education and outreach through our Natural Areas Journal, Natural Area News and other special publications; the natural areas annual conference with special symposia, workshops, field trips and presentations; and the work of NAA committees and action teams such as the Programs Assistance Committee which produced the Status of State Natural Areas report, and also oversees the State Natural Areas Roundtable.

How do I request a NAA publication or product?
The abstracts of most recent Natural Area Journal articles are available on our website and can be found by clicking on the Journal button on the menu bar. Back issues of the Journal can be ordered through the online link. You can also order our publications or CD-ROMs by clicking on Books/CDs. If you don’t see what you are looking for in either of these locations, please email us at mail@naturalarea.org.

Where do I submit a photo for use on your website?
Visit our Favorite Photos page to submit your own natural area photos. The website specifications and any other guidelines are listed on that page; please be sure to read them carefully. You can then email your Favorite Fotos to us at mail@naturalarea.org.

How do I network with other persons interested in Natural Areas?
First, if you are not currently a member of NAA, please join now. NAA members receive our publications, such as the Natural Areas Journal and our periodic newsletters, plus conference and workshop invitations. Members receive many other opportunities to directly network and learn from our diverse membership base. You can also visit our Chat Room, and take advantage of this Yahoo user group to engage with other persons interested in natural areas.

How do I become involved at NAA (Board or committee member, volunteer or staff)?
You can email us via the link below, and let us know your background and experience, and indicate your area and level of interest. You should also periodically visit our Employment web page to check out general job opportunities, calls for volunteers, plus openings for liaisons and committee members.

How do I submit a question that is not here?
Please email us.

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Natural Areas Association  ·  P.O. Box 1504  ·  Bend ·  OR  ·  97709

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