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NAFWS Southwest Regional Conference

August 17 - August 20

Organization: Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS)
Host Tribe: Tohono O’odham Nation
Dates: August 17–20, 2026
Location: Desert Diamond Casino & Entertainment, Tucson, AZ

Event Overview

The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) invites Tribal fish and wildlife professionals, students, researchers, conservation law enforcement officers, agency partners, and community members to attend the 2026 Southwest Regional Conference in Tucson, Arizona.

Hosted by the Tohono O’odham Nation, this year’s conference theme is:

“Carrying the Wisdom Forward: Honoring Legacy and Innovation.”

The four-day conference brings together natural resource professionals from across the Southwest to share research, strengthen partnerships, explore emerging technologies, and celebrate Tribal leadership in fish and wildlife conservation.

Registration

Registration Rates

  • NAFWS Member: $250 Early Bird | $325 Regular
  • Non-Member: $300 Early Bird | $375 Regular (includes membership)
  • Student: $125 Early Bird | $150 Regular (includes membership)

Registration closes on August 10, 2026. Additional registration and lodging information are available on the conference website.

Conference Highlights

Attendees can expect four days of professional development and networking, including:

  • Technical presentations from Tribal, state, federal, academic, and nonprofit professionals
  • Concurrent sessions covering wildlife management, habitat restoration, invasive species, wildlife health, GIS, conservation technology, and Tribal stewardship
  • Professional workshops and hands-on training opportunities
  • Conservation Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) training and competitions
  • Student poster presentations
  • Exhibitor and vendor hall
  • Southwest Regional Business Meeting
  • Welcome social, networking events, and a traditional feast hosted by the Tohono O’odham Nation
  • Closing banquet, awards ceremony, silent auction, and raffle

Featured Topics

This year’s program includes presentations and discussions on a wide range of conservation issues, including:

  • Wildlife connectivity and habitat restoration
  • Threatened and endangered species management
  • Wildlife health and disease
  • GIS, drones, AI, and emerging conservation technologies
  • Climate change and natural resource management
  • Sonoran pronghorn recovery
  • Black-footed ferret conservation
  • Borderlands wildlife conservation
  • Tribal conservation partnerships and stewardship

A variety of optional workshops, field tours, and networking events are also scheduled throughout the conference. Be sure to view the full conference agenda for complete details and workshop descriptions.

Learn More & Register

For registration, lodging information, the complete conference agenda, workshop descriptions, and additional event details, visit the official conference webpage:

https://www.nafws.org/event-details/southwest-regional-conference

Details

Venue