Manhattan, Kansas is nestled in the heart of the scenic Flint Hills, a globally significant remnant of the once vast tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Located near the Konza Prairie Biological Center and Kansas State University, this ecologically significant landscape features nearly 11,000 acres of native tallgrass prairie for research and conservation.
For the past 50 years, NAA’s Natural Areas Conference has gathered federal, tribal, state, regional, and local natural areas practitioners from national nonprofit organizations, private industry, and academic institutions in order to foster communication and collaboration that can lead to progress in connection to challenges in the management of natural areas.
Managing ecologically significant landscapes for the protection of biodiversity is a specialized segment of conservation and ecological science that includes management strategies to avert the permanent loss of or degradation of rare species and to preserve the unique functions of natural communities. Beyond the benefits to nature, well-managed natural areas increase resilience during catastrophic events and thus play an important role in the causes and consequences of climate change.
Land stewardship benefits from shared knowledge rich in diverse perspectives. NAC24 invites participation from all viewpoints, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences to enrich learning for all.
Join the people who protect and manage our natural areas.