Natural Areas Association (NAA) is an association of scientists and practitioners focused on the management of ecologically significant natural landscapes with the intent to protect biodiversity for current and future generations. Natural Areas News is your trusted resource for current events, reliable science, conservation success, emerging challenges, best practices, and achievements of those who work daily to preserve natural areas.

From observation to action: How iNaturalist spurs conservation

A lot has changed since the inception of iNaturalist in 2008. Since then it has grown as technology has evolved — first becoming a mobile app in 2011 and eventually adding more sophisticated machine-learning models to streamline the identification of plants and animals.

Tribes organize 'First Indigenous Sovereign Habitat Tribal Conservation District' in Alaska

The tribe of the village of Holy Cross, near the Yukon River, has won a $1.2 million dollar federal grant to organize a multi-tribe conservation district across a wide swath of Alaska, from the Bering Sea to the Central Interior.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife releases beavers into the wild for first time in nearly 75 years

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) launched the initial phase of its beaver translocation activities, recently conducting the first beaver conservation release in nearly 75 years. Working with the Maidu Summit Consortium, CDFW released a family of seven beavers into Plumas County.

Wildlife refuge’s growing bison population is also restoring long-gone prairie species

Bison were once a keystone species for America’s prairie ecosystems, supporting the entire biome — they carried seeds across land in their fur, created habitats for specialized plants with their wallows which also collected water, supported plant diversity with their grazing patterns, and shaped the landscape in a myriad of other ways.

In Other News

Endangered Species Protection sought for rare northern Nevada wildflower, Carson Valley monkeyflower (Erythranthe carsonensis)

Bureau of Land Management seeks public input on impact of lifting protections on 28 million acres in Alaska

An interview with California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot

An invasive plant is strangling Connecticut’s waters, so these students developed a robotic boat to help fix it

Conservation groups demand more from land managers for Southern Utah sage grouse habitat

Native tribes are getting a slice of their land back — under the condition that they preserve it*

The evolution of forecasting for decision-making in dynamic environments

The White House: A Proclamation on the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, 2023

Change Exposes the Complications of Wildland Fire Full Suppression Policy and Smoke Management in the Sierra Nevada of California, USA

Rare Kauaʻi plant (Cyanea rivularis) highlights endangered species recovery efforts

Native tree species prosper while exotics falter during gap-phase regeneration, but only where deer densities are near historical levels

States will need millions to protect affected wetlands

The perceived ecological and human well‐being benefits of ecosystem restoration

National Public Radio (NPR): The Endangered Species Act turns 50

A field‐validated ensemble species distribution model of Eriogonum pelinophilum, an endangered subshrub in Colorado, USA

Washington Department of Natural Resources preserves more land in Clark County, protecting rare plant species

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Funding Opportunities

The National Forest Foundation solicits project proposals that directly benefit America’s National Forests and Grasslands

Deadline: January 16, 2024

Natural Areas Research Grant in Ohio

Deadline: Feb. 1, 2024

The Nature Conservancy's Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program

Deadline: February 24, 2024

Washington Wildlife and Recreation Grant Program | Habitat Conservation Projects

Deadline: March 1, 2024

*Applications open February 14, 2024

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Natural and Scenic Area grants

Deadline: April 1, 2024

The Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grants

Deadline: April 1, 2024

*Applications open January 16, 2024

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