Protected Areas Worldwide

Protected areas are internationally recognised as a major tool in conserving species and ecosystems. They also provide a range of goods and services essential to sustainable use of natural resources. As a result, countries often have extensive systems of protected areas developed over many years. These systems vary considerably country to country, depending on national needs and priorities, and on differences in legislative, institutional and financial support.

Information on protected areas is essential to enable a wide range of conservation and development activities. However, there is wide variation in types of protected area, objectives of management, and degree of protection. It is therefore unlikely that those needing information on protected areas will have the time and resources necessary to obtain and make sense of it all. The UNEP-WCMC Protected Areas Data Unit was set up in 1981 to compile information on the world's protected areas, and to be a resource for those requiring such information.

• Vision 2020 - A long term assessment of the contribution of protected areas to conservation and development goals.
• World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA) - Largest repository of global information on protected areas. The databases held by UNEP-WCMC are frequently used in international oil spill emergency response action and contingency planning.
• UN List of Protected Areas - Definitive list of the world's protected areas
• Defining Protected Areas Management Categories
• Protected Areas Review Interactive Map Service - Mapped Information on the world's designated protected areas
• Protected Areas of the World - Descriptions of protected areas systems published in 1992 for the World Parks Congress
• Protected Areas of the Pacific Islands
• Transboundary Protected Areas - Information on transboundary protected areas and Peace Parks