Datasets, Tools & Reports

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  WDPA Marine »

  The WDPA-Marine is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive set of marine protected areas (MPAs) data available. The dataset focuses on MPAs and representation of the diverse species and habitats found in the marine environment. The tools itself features the attributes of each MPA, gives users an advanced search function, provides a viewer through Google Earth and links through to other detailed information such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

  Resource Type: Tools / Applications
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  Protected Planet Report 2012 »

  The Protected Planet Report 2012 reviews progress towards the achievement of international protected area targets.

  Resource Type: Reports

• Catchment management and Coral Reef Conservation »

   A practical guide for coastal resource managers to reduce damage from Catchment areas based on best practice case studies

  Resource Type: Tools / Applications
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  Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative - Working Towards High Seas Conservation »

  In 2008, the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted scientific criteria for identifying ecologically or biologically significant marine areas in need of protection on the open oceans and deep seas.

  While much scientific discovery lies ahead, available information and current and emerging methodologies already allow us to begin identifying oceanic features that are likely of particular ecological or biological importance.
   

  Resource Type: Reports
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  Working Toward High Seas Marine Protected Areas: An Assessment of Progress Made and Recommendations for Collaboration (2008) »

  The areas of the ocean that lie beyond national jurisdiction limits, also called the high seas, are vulnerable to human activities and currently underrepresented when compared to terrestrial and nearshore1 marine environments under protection. Thus, there is a growing movement among the conservation community to increase measures, such as marine protected areas, that can ensure protection of the largely undiscovered but important biodiversity of the high seas.

  Resource Type: Reports

• PIANC Dredging and port construction around coral reefs (2010) »

   One third of the world’s population lives in coastal areas and rapid development of these areas has meant increased construction of coastal infrastruc- ture (e.g. ports, navigation channels, coastal de- fence) and related activities (e.g. land reclamation, beach nourishment), which has inevitably led to conflicting priorities between coral reef conservation and economic growth. The key impacts of these ac- tivities, if not managed, include:
  • Direct loss of coral reef caused by the removal or burial of reefs
  • Lethal or sub-lethal stress to corals caused by elevated turbidity and sedimentation rates
  Dredging and port construction activities potentially affect not only the site itself, but also surrounding ar- eas, through a large number of impact vectors (e.g. turbid plumes, sedimentation, release of contami- nants, bathymetric changes). Effects may be imme- diate or develop over a longer timeframe and may be temporary or permanent in nature, depending on a large number of factors.

  Resource Type: Tools / Applications
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  KML File of World Heritage Sites »

  This KML layer includes key information on the natural and mixed World Heritage sites that were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as of 7 August 2012. The information comes from the latest version of the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA).

  Resource Type: Spatial Data / Maps
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  IABIN PATN Data Viewer »

  The Protected Areas Thematic Network brings together the main governmental and non-governmental organisations working on PA data management in the region in order to promote the more effective sharing of information on protected areas within and between the countries of the Americas Hemisphere, building on and contributing to existing global experience in this area through close collaboration with the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

  Resource Type: Tools / Applications
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  Global Seagrass Distribution (2005) »

  General Data License (excluding WDPA)

  Datasets Available from UNEP-WCMC: Excluding WDPA
  Access to UNEP-WCMC datasets is provided on the understanding that you read and consent to be bound by the Terms and Conditions attached. For the purposes of this Agreement the “Data” comprise any of the spatial data and associated attribute data downloadable from the UNEP-WCMC website, excluding the World Database on Protected Areas.

  Read the data policy here

  The seagrass dataset has been compiled by UNEP-WCMC in collaboration with Dr Frederick T. Short, University of New Hampshire, USA to show the global distribution of seagrass species. This dataset has been created from multiple sources and was used in the creation of the "World Atlas of Seagrasses" (2003). This polygon feature dataset is an update of the data used in the Atlas and is a unique data holding about the state of the world's seagrasses. For a complete overview of global seagrass distribution this dataset should be displayed together with the associated point dataset.
   

  Resource Type: Spatial Data / Maps
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  Protected Planet »

  Protected Planet is a new initiative to showcase the world's protected areas and is the most complete global dataset on terrestrial and marine protected areas. The initiative puts digital information about national parks and protected areas at the fingertips of global internet users, with the 'citizen science’ approach enabling anyone to edit and contribute to protected areas information.

  Resource Type: Spatial Data / Maps