World Database on Protected Areas

World Database on Protected Areas Consortium

The WDPA Consortium was established in 2002 to expand participation and leadership on the development of the protected areas database. The Consortium brings together a growing number of international conservation organizations that have agreed to ensure that information on protected areas is maintained on a cooperative basis and used to monitor the effectiveness of global conservation agendas.

From 2002 - 2006, the Consortium produced annual public-release versions of the WDPA in GIS format.

2006 version at the Eighth Conference of the Parties of CBD in March 2006
2005 version at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in November 2004;
2004 version at the Seventh Conference of the Parties of CBD in February 2004;
2003 version released at the Fifth World Parks Congress in 2003.

Each version represents a significant update on the previous release as a result of close collaboration among consortium members.

The vision for the WDPA is to have a freely available, accurate and up-to-date World Database on Protected Areas that is accepted as a global standard by all stakeholders. In practical terms, the aim is to ensure that the development, review and update of the WDPA and its placement in the public domain becomes a continuous sustainable process, with consortium members working together to find the necessary resources. The WDPA will also be a central component of the Biodiversity Knowledge Commons, capable of attracting abundant related information.

WDPA Consortium Principles, 2002

UNEP-WCMC

WCPA

Birdlife International

Wildlife Conservation Society

Fauna & Flora

Conservation International

WDPA Consortium Members

American Museum of Natural History
BirdLife International
Conservation International
Flora & Fauna International (FFI)
The Nature Conservancy
UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Wildlife Conservation Society
World Resources Institute
World Wildlife Fund (WWF US)
World Wildlife Fund for Nature ( WWF International)

Other key stakeholders include:

Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat (CBD Secretariat)
Conservation Biology Institute
Ramsar Convention Secretariat
World Heritage Centre (UNESCO)
Man and Biosphere Program (UNESCO)

If you are able to update, correct or provide protected areas information, please contact the protected areas programme.