Natural Areas Association
supporting professionals protecting nature
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Natural Areas Association (NAA) serves scientists and practitioners focused on the management of ecologically significant natural landscapes with the intent to protect biodiversity for current and future generations. Protecting nature requires quality science to inform practices on-the-ground and access to reliable resources that can advance the conservation and stewardship of land and water biodiversity. NAA curates and shares relevant and timely programs and resources with practitioners responsible for the ecological resilience and protection of natural areas in perpetuity.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Natural Areas Conference
Attendees catch up on current research by natural areas managers and scholars, learn about the challenges, successes and pitfalls of natural areas science, policy and education. They also obtain practical on-the-ground training and information that they can apply when they return to their jobs. Finally, a key function of the conference is to provide one-on-one meetings and conversations that couldn’t happen otherwise.
Natural Areas Journal
The Natural Areas Journal is a leading voice in natural areas management and preservation. Published quarterly by the Natural Areas Association, the Natural Areas Journal disseminates cutting-edge research, best practices and the newest knowledge related to natural areas. The journal includes peer-reviewed original research articles on applied conservation biology, ecological restoration, natural areas management, ecological assessment and monitoring, invasive and exotic species management, habitat protection, and fire ecology. Also included are editorials, conservation issues, forums, topic reviews, and stewardship articles.
NAA Webinar Series
NAA offers one-hour webinars focused on research and technique for land managers and stewards.
Online Resource Library
NAA offers a library of freely accessible proprietary resources for natural areas practitioners, as well as connecting our community to resources by affiliated organizations.
Stewardship in Action Workshops
Workshops are geared towards practitioners who are managing similar systems in a particular region. NAA’s goal is to create an opportunity for practitioners to come together as a community, support each other and share tested methodologies and expertise – as well as challenges - in a collaborative atmosphere.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of attendees present at rallies/events
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of participants engaged in programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of people on the organization's email list
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We are first and foremost in the business of science and practice delivery, bridging the gap between data and research on one hand, and on-the-ground management on the other. But we also take pride in fostering the natural areas practitioner community through professional networking and multiple forums in which to share ideas and best practices. We believe deeply in collaboration and that we are more effective at our jobs, when we come together to address our common challenges.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Foster a community of professionals that come together to find solutions to our shared challenges
Hold the Natural Areas Conference, the premier gathering of natural areas professionals
Hold Stewardship in Action Workshops to demonstrate on-the-ground management techniques and practices.
Publish the Natural Areas Journal, a peer-reviewed, internationally recognized journal for scientists and natural areas professionals that provides opportunities for researchers to share research results and best management practices
Offer interactive monthly webinars on emerging management topics.
Host virtual lectures and symposia for a deeper dive into emerging natural areas issues.
Convene a Science Advisory Committee comprised of leaders in natural areas science to identify emerging issues that may impact natural areas and the work of our stakeholders.
Host in-person and virtual, topical roundtables that provide natural areas practitioners with the opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.
Connect practitioners from federal, state, local, academic, tribal, nonprofit and private entities committed to the ongoing protection of ecologically significant landscapes.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
For the past 50 years, NAA has positively impacted biodiversity conservation and climate resilience through applied science, practical solutions, knowledge transfer, and advocacy. Our 2021 strategic business plan outlines a path that builds upon NAA’s existing strengths to advance science-based management practices to support on-the-ground efforts to protect ecologically significant natural landscapes. We continue to increase organizational capacity through increasing staffing levels and engaging expert consultants. We will continue to focus on content development, distribution, and accessibility to support practitioners in the preservation and stewardship of high-value natural areas.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have increased the number and types of programs offered every year since 2016, and we plan to continue this trajectory. Our intention is to meet practitioners where they are, and this means creating programming for varied professional experience levels, geographic locations, budgets, ability to travel as well as their preferred method of learning, such as written, oral, hands on, collaborative and independent, and we've been acting on this through our program
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Natural Areas Association
Board of directorsas of 04/14/2023
Roger McCoy
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Term: 2019 - 2023
Jim Johannsen
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation
Ryan Klopf
Virginia Natural Heritage
Darrell Bowman
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Alice Heikens
Franklin College
Peter Dunwiddie
University of Washington
Raquel Garcia-Alvarez
Forest Preserves of Cook County (IL)
Kelly Heintz
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (WA)
Bill Holimon
Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission
Jim Neal
Caddo Lake Institute
Arthur Pearson
Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (NY)
Ephraim Zimmerman
Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program
Holli Redekop
Silverglow Studio
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data