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

The total number of records in the March 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 March 2025 release of the World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) is 6,459 (6,441 OECMs), comprising 6,317 polygons and 142 points and covering 14 countries and territories.

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

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Highlights:

Colombia: In a partial update of data reported to the WD-OECM, Colombia has removed eight OECMs from the database. Two of them are UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (El Tuparro, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta), and the other ones are: Cuenca Hidrográfica del Alto Rio Suárez con Plan de Ordenación y Manejo, Cuenca Hidrográfica del Río seco y otros directos al Magdalena con Plan de Ordenación y Manejo, Cuenca Hidrográfica Río Cocorná y directos al Magdalena Medio con POMCA, Cuenca hidrográfica del río Coello con plan de ordenación y manejo, Cuenca Hidrográfica Chinchiná con Plan de Ordenación y Manejo y Reserva Forestal Protectora Productora Cuenca alta de Río Bogotá. This decision was made following a review of the required documentation to report OECMs that was conducted by a facilitator group from the Directorate of Forests, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Services within Colombia's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.

South Africa: South Africa has removed 17 OECMs that were reported in 2021. These sites are recognised at the national level as conservation areas, which are areas not formally protected by the Protected Areas Act but are managed at least partly for biodiversity conservation. South Africa are currently working to approve norms and standards for OECMs at the national level and these sites may be re-added at a later date following their formal assessment against the criteria.

Gambia: Complete update of national data for the Gambia, including the addition of one new point record.

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, March 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.