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

The total number of records in the January 2025 release of the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is 305,195 (303,312 protected areas), comprising 293,259 polygons and 11,936 points and covering 244 countries and territories.

The total number of records in the January 2025 release of the World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) is 6,484 (6,463 OECMs), comprising 6,342 polygons and 142 points and covering 15 countries and territories.

There are no updates in the January 2025 release of the Global Database on Protected Area Management Effectiveness (GD-PAME).

In October 2024, UNEP-WCMC transitioned to using a more detailed global base map and geodesic area calculations in WGS 1984 to generate global and national coverage statistics (the previous approach used Mollweide). These changes have introduced more accuracy to the coverage statistics we produce at the global and national level, especially at the poles and for small islands. In November 2024, total and marine area values at the site level were recalculated to enhance reporting accuracy, which enabled the reclassification of a small number of marine protected and conserved areas that had previously been reported as terrestrial protected and conserved areas. In December 2024, we have continued to use this new method.

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Map of protected areas and OECMs:

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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.