April 2025 update of the WDPA, WD-OECM and GD-PAME

The total number of records in the April 2025 release of the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is 305,196 (303,313 protected areas), comprising 293,259 polygons and 11,937 points and covering 244 countries and territories.

The total number of records in the April 2025 release of the World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) is 6,479 (6,441 OECMs), comprising 6,337 polygons and 142 points and covering 14 countries and territories.

In addition, 1403 assessment records were added from Colombia in the April 2025 release of the Global Database on Protected Area Management Effectiveness (GD-PAME).

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Highlights:

ABNJ: 20 sites have been submitted to the WD-OECM by the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) on behalf of its Contracting Parties. These are the first OECMs in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) and the first submitted by a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO). The 20 sites are managed individually but have been identified collectively as an OECM. Further information is available at https://www.neafc.org/oecm

Updated: Modifications/updates of the geometry and/or attributes of existing features in the WDPA or WD-OECM (i.e. features with existing WDPAIDs). Also covers features that have been verified as accurate (i.e. no changes need to be made)

Removed: Number of features removed from the WDPA or WD-OECM (i.e. WDPAIDs removed from the databases).

Added: Number of features added to the WDPA or WD-OECM (i.e. new WDPAIDs created).

Map of protected areas and OECMs:

Citation: UNEP-WCMC (2025). Map of Protected Areas and OECMs, April 2025. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net

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Summary of current data in preparation:

The data set status is defined as one of: 1) New Dataset Received, 2) Under Review by UNEP-WCMC, 3) Under Validation by Data Provider, or 4) Final Approval Stages.