Protected Areas
The Protected Areas Programme, an international team of staff based in Cambridge, UK, manages the World Database on Protected Areas and develops and supports the scientific basis for the valuation of protected areas, assesses the management and ecological effectiveness of these areas, and monitors this performance at a global level.
Key Partners
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) - the WCPA is administrated by IUCN’s Programme on Protected Areas and works with us to promote the establishment and management of protected areas globally, being a joint partner in the World Database on Protected Areas.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Centre - UNESCO is the advisory body for natural heritage, and we work with them to identify and protect natural World Heritage sites of international universal value.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - we support the CBD's Programme on Work on Protected Areas, which is a global action plan for protected area networks within countries.
In This Section
About Protected Areas
Protected areas are managed to achieve the conservation of nature and are internationally recognised as important tools for conserving species and ecosystems.
MoreWorld Database on Protected Areas
The World Database on Protected Areas, managed by UNEP-WCMC, is the largest assembly of data on the world's terrestrial and marine protected areas.
MoreWorld Heritage Sites
The World Heritage List includes some of the world’s most important cultural and natural sites: the Egyptian pyramids, Great Wall (China), Taj Mahal (India), Machu Picchu (Peru), Great Barrier Reef (Australia), Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Grand Canyon (USA). UNEP-WCMC works to provide technical support to the World Heritage Convention.
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Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs)
ICCAs are protected areas that are voluntarily conserved by local communities, which can contain significant biodiversity, ecological and cultural services. UNEP-WCMC is working to build awareness and recognition of such areas.
MoreClimate Change and Protected Areas in West Africa
The West Africa region is highly vulnerable to climate change, and the current protected area systems are unlikely to provide adequate coverage in the future. This project aims at developing tools to increase the resilience of protected areas to climate change at the regional scale.
MoreMonitoring Protected Areas
Assessment and monitoring of protected areas is crucial to ensure biodiversity protection and the long-term sustainability of protected areas. UNEP-WCMC uses management effectiveness assessments and develops indicators as standardised ways of evaluating protected areas.
MoreProtected Area Networks
Networks of protected areas are those that are linked by a common focus, often having similar values and management approaches. UNEP-WCMC works to identify, support and promote these networks.
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