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Managing for Diversity Across Florida's Unique Landscapes

Next Course:

Online coursework: February 14 - March 6, 2025 (on your own time, with deadlines)

Live virtual welcome session: (via Zoom) 3:30-4:30 pm ET on Tuesday, February 18th, 2025

In-person workshop days (2 options): March 10-11 or March 12-13. Day 1 from 10:30am-5:30pm and Day 2 from 8:00am-4:15pm.

Link to registration pages will be HERE

  • REGULAR registration will open January 14, at 10:00am Eastern Time.
  • EARLY registration is available for previous NATA graduates*. You must email the Training Coordinator by January 2 to request an early registration code, and code will expire on Monday, January 13 at 11:59pm.
  • Registration will close when capacity is reached or by January 31; we expect course will fill to capacity quickly!

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Course Description

This is a NATA Core workshop, leading to the Certificate in Natural Areas Management. This training builds understanding of management and restoration approaches for conserving biodiversity.

Participants will: 

  • Identify factors responsible for Florida's high biodiversity
  • Discover sources of information on biodiversity in Florida
  • Understand threats to biodiversity and strategies that can be used to abate these threats
  • Become aware of biodiversity protection laws and how environmental laws are enforced
  • Learn about the role of restoration in maintaining biodiversity over the long term
  • Compare ways to control invasive and non-native plant/animal species that threaten FL biodiversity
  • Develop a monitoring plan that assesses trends in biodiversity over time

Online coursework:

Approximately 10 hours across 3-weeks (on your own, with weekly assignment deadlines); reliable internet connection and computer required. Draft agenda of online assignments: MFD Assignment Checklist Feb/Mar 2025

Attend 1-hour live virtual session (via Zoom), during the first week of the online coursework.

In-person training:

2 day in-person training at Morningside Nature Center and Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve, east of downtown Gainesville, FL. Draft agenda of field days: MFD Agenda 10-11 March 2025 or MFD Agenda 12-13 March 2025

Registration Fee:

$325 (does not include lodging)

  • You must pay with a CREDIT CARD online at the time of registration on the Eventbrite website. The confirmation email from Eventbrite is your receipt.
  • NO REFUNDS will be offered after registration closes.
  • NO CREDITS will be issued for those who do not complete the course.
  • Eventbrite processing fees are NONREFUNDABLE, meaning that if you need a refund, you will receive a partial refund, minus the Eventbrite processing fees. For more information, visit Eventbrite's policy .

*EARLY registration is available to any person who has graduated from one or more of the NATA core certificate courses.  Fire training (e.g., S130/190) is not considered a core course for early registration eligibility. You must email the NATA training coordinator by date listed above to request a special registration code..

Lodging:

Participants are responsible for securing their own lodging. When selecting lodging, note that workshop location is located 10-20 minutes drive east of downtown Gainesville. For convenience, we recommend a hotel near downtown/central Gainesville (University Ave & Main St, or 13th St) rather than near I-75 or Archer Rd.

For more information, contact: 

Training Coordinator

Natural Areas Training Academy

nata@ifas.ufl.edu