Natural Areas Association
Natural Areas Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional association founded in 1980 serving 15,000+ natural areas managers and conservation practitioners through a peer-reviewed journal, annual conference, webinars, and resource materials.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Natural Areas Association does
Natural Areas Association (NAA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional association founded in 1980 and headquartered in Ligonier, Pennsylvania (with a mailing address in Kalamazoo, Michigan). The organization serves more than 15,000 natural areas managers, ecological restoration practitioners, and conservation professionals across federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, consulting firms, and academia. Its mission centers on advancing the science and practice of natural areas management through education, peer-reviewed publishing, and convening.
NAA's core offerings include an annual in-person conference drawing 350-500 attendees, the peer-reviewed Natural Areas Journal, a paid webinar series priced at $29 for non-members, a free YouTube resource library, and a resource store for physical and digital materials. The organization's business model is membership-supported: revenue is derived from individual and organizational memberships, conference registration fees, journal subscriptions, webinar ticket sales, and resource purchases. Distribution is multi-channel and largely direct-to-practitioner, with no evidence of intermediated reselling or enterprise licensing.
NAA maintains formal partnerships with major conservation and government entities, including Esri (GIS and spatial analysis), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, and Defenders of Wildlife. These partnerships embed the association in the federal conservation procurement and collaboration ecosystem. Leadership is lean, with Lisa Smith serving as Executive Director and Amy Wills as Operations Director overseeing approximately nine total staff. Recent programmatic additions include the AI in Conservation Roundtable, signaling intent to position the association at the intersection of natural areas practice and emerging AI tooling.
Natural Areas Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Natural Areas Association
- Legal name
- Natural Areas Association
- Website
- https://naturalareas.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Natural Areas Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional association founded in 1980 serving 15,000+ natural areas managers and conservation practitioners through a peer-reviewed journal, annual conference, webinars, and resource materials.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Natural Areas Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Conservation Education Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)
Keywords
Where Natural Areas Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Natural Areas Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership providing access to webinars, recordings, conference discounts, and member-exclusive resources.
- Conference Registration: Registration fees for Natural Areas Conference (NAC) with typical attendance of 350-500 practitioners.
- Webinar Fees: Non-member webinar registration at $29 with access to recording; NAA members receive complimentary registration.
- Sponsorship & Exhibits: Conference sponsorship packages ranging from $500-$7,500, plus exhibit hall booth at $1,200.
- Resource Store: Sales of publications including AI in Conservation and White-Tailed Deer Management guides.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Non-Member Webinar Access |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Exhibit Hall Booth |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Poster Reception Sponsor |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Awards Luncheon Sponsor |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Breakfast Buffet Sponsor |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Beverage Break Sponsor |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Breakout Session Sponsor |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Natural Areas Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Natural Areas Association is a nonprofit membership association that provides natural areas practitioners and conservation professionals with continuing education, networking, and applied science resources. Its core offerings include the annual Natural Areas Conference, the peer-reviewed Natural Areas Journal, scheduled webinars, and field-based workshops such as Stewardship in Action. The organization also operates a Resource Store that sells publications and branded materials to its members and the broader conservation community.
Product overview
Natural Areas Association is a non-profit membership organization that provides educational resources, professional development, and networking opportunities for natural areas practitioners. The organization operates primarily through its annual Natural Areas Conference (NAC), a webinar program featuring conservation science topics, the peer-reviewed Natural Areas Journal, a YouTube video resource library, job posting services, and a resource store offering publications. Additional programs include symposia, field workshops, roundtables on topics like AI in conservation, and a membership program granting access to recorded content and conference registration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Natural Areas Journal: Peer-reviewed scientific journal published quarterly covering natural areas conservation research
- Natural Areas Conference (NAC)
Products and services
- Natural Areas Conference (NAC) The annual flagship conference for natural areas practitioners, conservation professionals, and member organizations, offering multi-day programming, keynote sessions, and networking focused on natural areas management and stewardship.
- Natural Areas Journal Peer-reviewed scientific journal serving natural areas practitioners, conservation professionals, and researchers with applied science on natural areas management, restoration, and stewardship.
- NAA Webinars Scheduled online educational webinar series on current topics in natural areas management, offered to members and the broader natural areas practitioner community on a per-session registration basis.
- NAA Membership Program Annual membership program offered to individuals and organizations in the natural areas community, providing access to member benefits, programming, publications, and the association's professional network.
- Stewardship in Action Field Workshops Field-based, hands-on workshops that bring natural areas practitioners into on-the-ground stewardship settings for applied training in natural areas management techniques.
- AI in Conservation Roundtable Topical educational roundtable program convened by NAA to address the application of artificial intelligence in natural areas and conservation practice.
- NAA Resource Store Online store operated by the association that sells publications, reference materials, and branded merchandise to members and the broader natural areas community.
- Job Postings for Natural Areas Practitioners Paid job posting service that connects conservation employers recruiting natural areas practitioners with candidates in the field.
Quantifiable outcome
- Gathers 350-500 practitioners annually at the Natural Areas Conference
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Natural Areas Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Natural Areas Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Natural Areas Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- EsricoreEsri is a key sponsor and technology partner for NAA, providing GIS solutions and supporting webinars on geographic approaches to invasive species management. They sponsor the Invasive Species Management and Operations with GIS symposium.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreFWS is a conference sponsor supporting the Natural Areas Conference and conservation programs.
- The Nature ConservancycoreTNC is a conference sponsor and partner in conservation initiatives, including field workshops and symposia at the Natural Areas Conference.
- Defenders of WildlifecorePartner organization involved in wildlife corridor and connectivity work, presenting at symposia on Safe Passage coalition initiatives.
- Bureau of Land ManagementmajorBLM supports NAA webinars and programs on topics including native seed assessment and watershed recovery.
- U.S. Forest ServicemajorUSFS supports NAA webinars and educational programs on conservation topics.
- Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML)minorColorado State University program that presented on supporting resource management across the country in NAA webinar.
- MountainTrueminorRegional conservation organization leading Post-Helene Landscape Tour workshop at NAC26.
- RiverLinkminorAsheville-based environmental nonprofit spearheading green infrastructure projects, leading Parking Lot to Paradise workshop and rivercane restoration efforts.
- NatureServecoreNatureServe is a key partner presenting on biodiversity mapping, vegetation classification, and conservation strategies through NAA webinars.
- Hemlock Restoration InitiativeminorOrganization leading hemlock conservation efforts, co-leading field workshop on Carolina hemlock forests.
- Bog Learning NetworkminorConsortium of scientists and land managers working on mountain bog restoration, hosting field workshop at NAC26.
- Old-Growth Forest NetworkminorNational nonprofit presenting on old-growth forest conservation through NAA webinars and conference sessions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Natural Areas Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Wildlife Federation: Large national conservation nonprofit with membership, publications, and education programs; comparable in serving conservation-interested audiences and overlapping practitioner/community educational goals.
- The Nature Conservancy: One of the largest global conservation nonprofits; comparable because it operates as a major conference sponsor, partner in field workshops, and addresses natural areas management at scale overlapping NAA's practitioner audience.
- Ecological Society of America: Large professional society of ecological scientists with peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and sections; comparable as a broader incumbent serving an overlapping audience of ecologists and natural areas researchers.
- Defenders of Wildlife: National wildlife conservation nonprofit that partners with NAA on wildlife corridor work and co-presents symposia; comparable as a similarly mission-aligned advocacy and science-based organization targeting natural-resource practitioners.
Direct peers
- NatureServe: Nonprofit providing biodiversity data, vegetation classification, and conservation mapping; comparable because it serves the same natural areas practitioner audience through webinars, mapping tools, and applied conservation science partnerships with NAA.
- Land Trust Alliance: National membership organization supporting land trusts with training, accreditation, and advocacy; highly comparable as a membership-based association serving a directly overlapping land-stewardship constituency.
- Society for Ecological Restoration: International membership society for ecological restoration practitioners offering conferences, publications, and certification; comparable as a professional society targeting the same natural areas management community with similar knowledge-exchange services.
- The Wildlife Society: Professional association for wildlife biologists and managers producing a peer-reviewed journal, annual conference, and working groups; comparable in structure, scale, and target audience overlap with NAA's practitioner base.
Emerging players
- Conservation Biology Institute: Nonprofit applying GIS and data science to conservation planning; comparable as a mission-aligned organization supporting land managers and conservation practitioners with decision-support tools that complement NAA's training programs.
Others
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Federal agency managing wildlife refuges and conservation programs that sponsors NAA conferences and webinars; comparable as a key program partner rather than direct competitor, sharing the natural areas practitioner audience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Natural Areas Association social profiles
Digital presenceNatural Areas Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Natural Areas Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Natural Areas Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Natural Areas Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Natural Areas Association
What does Natural Areas Association do?
Natural Areas Association is a nonprofit membership association that provides natural areas practitioners and conservation professionals with continuing education, networking, and applied science resources. Its core offerings include the annual Natural Areas Conference, the peer-reviewed Natural Areas Journal, scheduled webinars, and field-based workshops such as Stewardship in Action. The organization also operates a Resource Store that sells publications and branded materials to its members and the broader conservation community.
Is Natural Areas Association a public or private company?
Natural Areas Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Natural Areas Association founded?
Natural Areas Association was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Natural Areas Association based?
Natural Areas Association is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Natural Areas Association make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are conference Registration, webinar Fees, sponsorship & Exhibits and resource Store.
Who are Natural Areas Association's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Ecological Society of America and Defenders of Wildlife. Direct peers are NatureServe, Land Trust Alliance, Society for Ecological Restoration and The Wildlife Society. Conservation Biology Institute is listed as an emerging player. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is listed as an others.
Does Natural Areas Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Natural Areas Association.
What industry is Natural Areas Association in?
Natural Areas Association's product category is Conservation Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAH, Environmental Education & Outreach, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation. Its NAICS code is 9241 and its SIC code is 8600.