Next Course: February-March 2026
Online coursework: February 25 - March 18, 2026
Live virtual welcome session (via Zoom): February 26 (2:30-3:30 or 3:45-4:45 PM ET)
In-person workshop days (2 options): March 23-24 or March 25-26, 2026
LINK to registration pages: will be here once registration opens
- REGULAR registration is February 11, 2026 at 10am ET.
- EARLY registration is only available for previous NATA graduates*. You must email the NATA Training Coordinator by February 3, 2026 to request early registration access, access will expire the day before early registration opens.
- Registration will close when capacity is reached or by February 20, 2026; 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.
Attend 1-hour live virtual session (via Zoom), during the first week of the online coursework.
In-person training:
Two days of in-person training at Morningside Nature Center and Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve, east of downtown Gainesville, FL.
Draft of agenda: NATA MFD Agenda and Checklist 2026
Registration Information:
$335 (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 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 February 3 to request early registration access. Early access expires the day before regular registration begins.
Lodging:
Participants are responsible for securing their own lodging. When selecting lodging, note that workshop locations are located 10-15 minutes east of downtown Gainesville. For convenience, we recommend a hotel near central Gainesville; this area of SW 13th St. just south of SW 16th Ave. has some affordable hotel options with free parking. Downtown (Main St. & Univ Ave. area) also has conveniently located hotels; prices fluctuate depending on demand and parking is not always included. Choosing a hotel off I-75 will yield a longer and more congested commute to and from the workshop location.
For more information, contact:
Training Coordinator
Natural Areas Training Academy
