October 2024 update of the WDPA, WD-OECM and GD-PAME

The total number of records in the October 2024 release of the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is 305,141 (303,309 protected areas), comprising 293,202 polygons and 11,939 points and covering 244 countries and territories.

The total number of records in the October 2024 release of the World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) is 6,485 (6,464 OECMs), comprising 6,343 polygons and 142 points and covering 15 countries and territories.

In addition, 5 assessment records were added and 1 assessment record was updated from Peru in the October 2024 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, especially at the poles and for small islands.

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Highlights:

Paraguay: Complete update of protected areas data for Paraguay, including national and international designations, by the national government. 42 new sites added to the WDPA, included three Ramsar sites and one UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve. Five sites were removed from the WDPA, three with national designations, one Ramsar site and one UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve. 95 records updated. All data in polygon format.

Maldives: Complete update of Maldives protected areas. Addition of 22 national sites and removal of 1 point data that is no longer recognised. 25 polygons had their designations changed to UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves.

Namibia: Complete update of Namibia's data by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, supported by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. 4 protected areas were removed, including 4 tourist concession areas: Klein Aus Vista, Lianshulu, Namib Sky Balooning and Skeleton Coast. 23 protected areas were added, including 19 proclaimed fish reserves, 2 state forests (Kanovlei and Hamweyi) and 2 community forests (Na Jagna and Ondjou). The boundary of Mkata Community Forest was updated. 'Caprivi State Forest' was updated to 'Zambezi State Forest Reserve'.

Kenya: Update of Kenya's forest reserve data by Kenya Forest Service (KFS), faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD). This is the first time the data has been updated since 1980. 83 PAs represented as points have been updated to polygon data. The designation of 7 Forest Reserves were updated to Community Forest Reserves (Kianjiru, Ole Lengishu, Maasai Mau, Kabonge, Mai, Museve and Sekerr). 58 new polygons have been added, including 11 Community Forest Reserves and 47 Forest Reserves.

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 (2024). Protected areas map of the world, October 2024. 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.