Moira McGinty Klos, CMP

The 2026 Natural Areas Conference (NAC26) is a premier gathering for land and water management practitioners and scientists. It serves as a national forum for information exchange, where science meets stewardship, bridging the gap between research and practical application. Attendees share emerging research and evidence-based practices, and gain access to new relationships, knowledge, and collaboration to advance plans, practices, and methodologies for addressing diverse challenges in natural areas management. The conference provides science-based content, practical solutions, and knowledge transfer for natural area practitioners and researchers, including land stewards in land trusts, nature centers, and nature preserves. NAC26 also highlights the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene and the region's commitment to conservation and natural areas stewardship, supporting the protection of biodiversity by providing access to quality science, new knowledge, best practices, and emerging methodologies for those who steward natural areas.