The relevance of the World Database on Protected Areas for a network of forest protected areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity

Author: Herkenrath, P., Lysenko, I., Besançon, C., Renders, L. & Burgess, N.
Date Published: January 2007

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is the key source for global and regional forest protected area information. It is in the process of a major redevelopment that will significantly enhance its usefulness for various users. The database already plays a significant role in reporting to major globally-agreed goals and targets, such as Millennium Development Goal 7 and the CBD programmes of work on forests and protected areas. For any global forest protected area network, the WDPA could provide information on officially designated protected areas, including sites that have not been assigned a particular IUCN management category but nevertheless qualify as sites contributing towards national, regional and global efforts and processes addressing forest conservation.