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.

Forests in the United States continue to lose biodiversity and many fail to regenerate due to high deer abundance. Declines in biodiversity and overall ecosystem health due to these populations increases prevalence of wildlife and human diseases associated with increasing tick abundances and decreases forest resilience and the ability to deliver benefits provided by healthy ecosystems.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Emerson/USFWS, Public Domain

On a remote tallgrass prairie in North Dakota, a secretive orchid pokes up from the ground. You'll only find it if you know where to look. The striking, bright white blooms of the western prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara) are elusive, and as a threatened species protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, it is also a puzzle for researchers trying to learn more about the orchid's reproduction and role in its ecosystem.

Wetlands are important areas to protect due to their high biodiversity. There has been a push to treat wetlands the way they deserve, but organizations often exhibit a questionable tendency – choosing waterfowl as their flagship species.

Photo courtesy of Dusty Vaughn/USFWS, Public Domain

An Act to Establish a National Wilderness Preservation System for the Permanent Good of the Whole People, and for Other Purposes,” otherwise known as, The Wilderness Act, celebrates its 60th anniversary on September 3, 2024.

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