2026 Natural Areas Conference (NAC26): Where Science Meets Stewardship

October 5-8, 2026 | Asheville, NC

The Natural Areas Association (NAA) Natural Areas Conference (NAC) has gathered federal, tribal, state, regional, and local natural areas practitioners from nonprofit organizations, private industry, and academic institutions - connecting conservation science and those who provide on-the-ground management to protect biodiversity. 

The 2026 Natural Areas Conference (NAC26): Where Science Meets Stewardship is where practitioners gather to share emerging research and evidence-based practice. NAC26 fosters access to new relationships, knowledge and collaboration that can advance plans, practices, and methodologies to address challenges in the management of natural areas.

NAA remains committed to the city of Asheville, the surrounding regions and doing what we can to support the local organizations that are on the front lines. Join us as we celebrate this region, its people, and learn from their experiences, as they rebuild and restore the lands and waters of southern Appalachia.

Mark your calendar to join us in Asheville, October 5 - 8, 2026. 

Interested in becoming a sponsor or exhibitor? Contact Lisa Smith for more information.

Why should you attend the 2026 Natural Areas Conference?

• The NAC is where science meets stewardship - - bridging the gap between research and practice.
  
• The NAC gathers more than 350 natural areas practitioners in one location featuring plenary and concurrent sessions, symposia, round tables, field workshops, and poster presentations.
  
• The NAC is the forum for information-exchange among natural areas practitioners across North America. Participants have shared countless stories about how information gained from their participation in this conference had a direct impact on the lands they steward.
  
• The NAC provides science-based content for natural area practitioners and researchers seeking applied science, practical solutions, and knowledge transfer related to the management of natural areas on a day-to-day basis; such as land stewards in land trusts, nature centers, and nature preserves who manage land for their conservation or natural area values.
  
• The NAC supports the conservation and the protection of biodiversity by providing access to quality science, new knowledge, best practices, and emerging methodologies for those who steward natural areas.

Conference Topics
The Natural Areas Conference is a national convening of land management practitioners. We welcome proposals to share new knowledge, methodologies and practices in land stewardship. That said, we understand that every region has unique topography, ecology and expertise to share. Regionally specific topics will be added as we engage our conference partners from North Carolina and the surrounding area. The Call for Proposals will open in late 2025.

• Conservation of Eastern Deciduous Forest Ecosystems (Healthy Forests)

• Grassland Management and Conservation

• Aquatic Resource Management and Conservation 

• Climate Adaptation and Resilience

• Advances in Invasive Species Management

• Native Plant Materials in Restoration

• Good Fire/Bad Fire Management (Fire Science and Practice)

• Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management

• Invertebrate/Pollinator Conservation

• Soil Science and Considerations in Natural Areas Management

• Restoration of Natural Areas

• Native Plant Conservation

• Value of Small Natural Areas

• Indigenous Perspectives on Natural Areas Management

• Technology in Natural Areas Management

• Communicating the Importance of Your Work to Lay Audiences

• Engaging New Audiences in Land Stewardship

• Urban Natural Areas

• Private Lands Conservation Efforts

• Rare Species Conservation 

• Economics of Natural Area Conservation 

• Collaborative Conservation 

Would you like to suggest a field or skills workshop? Contact us!

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including information about conference planning in Asheville, the call for proposals, and more.
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