Protected Areas and World Heritage Programme

1997 United Nations List of Protected Areas

Foreword

Introduction

History of the UN List
The IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas
The UNEP-WCMC Protected Areas and Landscapes Programme
Criteria for inclusion
Layout of the UN List
Compilation of the 1997 UN List
Information gaps
Features of the 1997 UN List
Value of a global Protected Areas Database
Definitions of the IUCN Protected Area Management Categories
Protected Areas Resources Centres
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References

Extent of the world's protected areas
Coastal and marine protected areas
Protected areas excluded from the UN List
Management objectives
Growth of the world's protected areas

World Heritage Sites

Biosphere Reserves

Wetlands of International Importance

European Commission Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds

Summary of all protected areas recorded in the UNEP-WCMC Protected Areas Database