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 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.

Photo courtesy of Joe Timmerman/Indy Star

Buffalo project helps restore prairie while reconnecting indigenous tribes with heritage*

Buffalo are part of a unique prairie restoration project spearheaded by the Indiana chapter of The Nature Conservancy. The primary goal is to preserve and restore native habitats, but the project is also helping make amends for colonialism that devastated Indigenous tribes as settlers moved west across America.

Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation

Missouri Department of Conservation gains 160 acres for Pawnee Prairie Conservation Area

The Missouri Department of Conservation has acquired 160 acres as an addition to the Pawnee Prairie Conservation Area. The wide variety of grassland wildlife found here, as well as tracts of unplowed prairie, indicate this is the best area in northern Missouri to restore a functioning tallgrass prairie ecosystem on a landscape scale.

Botanists are scouring the U.S.-Mexico border to document a forgotten ecosystem split by a giant wall*

Roughly 1,000 volunteers with the iNaturalist app are documenting species along the U.S.-Mexico border. Uploading photos to the app helps identify plants and animals, and records the coordinates of the location. The hope is that the information will lead to more protections for the region’s natural richness.

Photo courtesy of Patty Wetli / WTTW News

Forest Preserve District of Cook County embarks on its most ambitious restoration project yet

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County will spend $10 million to improve the Red Gate Woods area of the Palos Preserves system. So far, contractors have removed 200 acres of honeysuckle that had stunted the growth of native plants. “This is our biggest restoration project ever, ever, ever,” said Eileen Figel, interim general superintendent of the district. 

In Other News

One year ago, the United States Supreme Court rolled back federal wetland protections. Here are the impacts so far. 

Colorado becomes first state to enact legislation to address wetland protection gap

Central Indiana Land Trust purchases 80 acres that will be added to the Hoosier National Forest*

Plant that vanished from Vermont 108 years ago accidentally rediscovered, botanists say

Colorado Natural Heritage Program launches historic, statewide biodiversity survey

Legal victory speeds protection decision for rare Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)

Update your lexicon: Indigenous Knowledge replaces Native Knowledge

Conservation groups working to restore Alabama grasslands

Times are changing at Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area, public invited to comment*

New film takes on aquatic invasives in Pennsylvania's natural areas

Southern Ute Tribe makes history with USDA to conserve natural resources

Drone cameras help scientists distinguish between drought stress & fungus in oaks

Nevada Native Seed Partnership awarded $3.74 million for habitat restoration in the Great Basin

Tribes invited to "co-steward" federal land, but would rather "co-manage"

Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands is one of the biggest conservation opportunities in the west. If Congress won't protect it, should Biden step in to help?* 

Recent YouTube Releases

The Latest Research

Prescribed fires effects on actual and modeled fuel loads and forest structure in southern coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests

Juncus snowii (Juncaceae), a New Rare Species Endemic to the Altamaha Grit of Georgia, U.S.A.*

Characterization of the bee community and pollination network in a southeastern U.S. pine savanna

Basal bark herbicide treatment of Lonicera maackii (Amur honeysuckle) is effective regardless of application timing, with limited nontarget effects on native plant diversity

Biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage

• Items with an asterisk may require registration or a paid subscription to view*
• Items that are italicized represent academic titles

Funding Opportunities

Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program

Deadline: June 14, 2024

National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program

Deadline: June 21, 2024

Arizona Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Grant

Deadline: June 28, 2024

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