• CSV
  • SHP
  • File Geodatabase
  • PDF

Download Options

Commercial Use Meaning any use by or for a commercial entity, whether revenue-generating or not, or any use that generates revenue for any type of entity. Further details here. For commercial use, please visit IBAT.
Non Commercial Use Download data from Protected Planet.

Africa

8935 Total Protected Areas
1089 With management effectiveness evaluations
Terrestrial and Inland Waters Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas
Other effective area-based conservation measures
351 Total Other effective area-based conservation measures
58 Number of countries
Polygons/Points ratio
Polygons 93%
Points 7%
Discover Protected Areas and OECMs
Terrestrial and Inland Waters Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas
Other effective area-based conservation measures
ON
Map Disclaimer
The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

• Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties.
• Final boundary between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan has not yet been determined.
• Final status of the Abyei area is not yet determined.
• A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).
  • Protected Areas
  • Protected Areas & OECMs

Terrestrial and inland waters protected area coverage

14.61% Coverage

4,368,017km2 Land area covered

29,888,869km2 Total land area

Marine protected area Coverage

15.92% Coverage

2,483,716km2 Marine and coastal area covered

15,602,729km2 Total marine and coastal area

Disclaimer: These statistics might differ from those reported officially by countries due to difference in methodologies and datasets used to assess protected area coverage and differences in the base maps used to measure terrestrial and marine area of a country or territory.

IUCN Management Categories

SeriesChart100%Chart created using amCharts library

Governance types

SeriesChart100%Chart created using amCharts library

Sources 124

  1. Protected Areas of Angola Updated: 2023 Ministério do Ambiente - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  2. Protected areas of Benin Updated: 1984 Insititut National de l'Information géographique et forestière, France
  3. Protected Areas of Botswana Updated: 2013 Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Botswana
  4. Protected areas of Cameroon Updated: 2021 Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, Cameroon via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  5. Protected areas of Central African Republic Updated: 2024 Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  6. Protected areas of Chad Updated: 2024 Direction des Parcs Nationaux et Reserves de Faune via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  7. Protected areas of Congo Updated: 2020 Agence Congolaise de la Faune et des Aires Protégées (ACFAP) via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  8. Protected Areas of Ethiopia Updated: 2021 Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  9. Protected areas of Gabon Updated: 2024 Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  10. Protected Areas of Ghana Updated: 2020 The Forestry Commission of Ghana
  11. Protected Areas of Cote d'Ivoire Updated: 2024 Office Ivoirien des Parcs et Reserves
  12. Protected areas of Kenya Updated: 2022 Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  13. Malawi-Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area (Malawi section), and National Parks and Wildlife Reserves of Malawi Updated: 2018 Department of National Parks and Wildlife - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  14. Protected areas of Gabon Updated: 1993 Insititut Géographique National - Paris, France
  15. Protected Areas of Mozambique Updated: 2021 National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  16. Protected Areas of Niger Updated: 2020 Niger NPF and PoWPA FP
  17. Protected areas of Nigeria Updated: 1990 Nigerian Conservation Foundation
  18. Protected areas of Rwanda Updated: 2020 Ministry of Environment and Lands, Rwanda via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  19. Parcs Réservés et Aires Marines Protégées du Sénégal Updated: 2021 Ministère de l'Environnement et du Développement Durable
  20. South Africa Protected Areas Database (SAPAD) and South Africa Conservation Area Database (SACAD) Updated: 2025 Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  21. Protected Areas of Namibia Updated: 2024 Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), Ministry of Environment and Tourism
  22. Protected Areas of South Sudan Updated: 2014 South Sudan National Wildlife Service (SSWS); Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) South Sudan Program
  23. National Parks of Tanzania Updated: 2023 Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  24. Protected Areas of Tunisia Updated: 2016 Ministère de l’Agriculture des ressources hydrauliques et de la pêche
  25. Uganda Wildlife Authority's protected areas Updated: 2020 Uganda Wildlife Authority - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  26. Protected Areas of Burkina Faso Updated: 2021 Ministère de l’environnement de l’économie verte et du changement climatique
  27. Protected areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo Updated: 2024 ICCN via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  28. Protected Areas of Zambia Updated: 2021 Department of National Parks and Wildlife
  29. Protected Areas of Zimbabwe Updated: 2023 Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  30. Protected areas of Madagascar Updated: 2024 Ministry of Environment - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  31. Protected Areas of Mauritius Updated: 2024 National Parks and Conservation Service, Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security
  32. Protected areas of Seychelles Updated: 2020 Ministry of Environment, Republic of Seychelles - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  33. Protected Areas of Sierra Leone Updated: 2021 Ministry of the Environment
  34. UNESCO World Heritage Sites Updated: 2024 IUCN World Heritage Programme
  35. Protected areas in the Congo Basin Updated: 2020 African Forest Observatory (FORAF), Democratic Republic of Congo
  36. Protected Areas of The Gambia Updated: 2025 Department of Parks and Wildlife Management and National Environment Agency, Banjul, The Gambia
  37. Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance Updated: 2023 Ramsar Secretariat, on behalf of Ramsar Contracting Parties
  38. Protected Areas of Mali Updated: 2020 Ministère de l’Environnement, de l’Assainissement et du Développement Durable, Direction Nationale des Eaux et Forêts
  39. Senegal protected areas Updated: 2007 Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD), Senegal
  40. Protected Areas of Sudan Updated: 2014 Sudan NPF and PoWPA FP
  41. Protected Areas of Togo Updated: 2020 Ministère de l'environnement, du développement durable et de la protection de la nature
  42. Protected Areas of Egypt Updated: 2011 Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Ministry of Environment
  43. Protected Areas of Guinea Updated: 2021 Office Guinéen des Parcs et Réserves (OGPR) via the Observatory for Biodiversity and Protected Areas in West Africa (OBAPAO)
  44. Privately protected areas of Kenya Updated: 2014 Zeitz Foundation, Kenya
  45. UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve Updated: 2020 UNESCO-MAB
  46. Protected Areas and OECMs of Morocco Updated: 2024 Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification (HCEFLCD)
  47. Protected Areas of Algeria Updated: 2020 Algérie Direction Générale des Forêts
  48. Ankasa Game, Bia, Gbele , Mole and Kyabobo protected areas Updated: 2007 Protected Areas Development Programme (PAPD II), Ghana
  49. Protected areas and community conservation areas in Kenya Updated: 2012 African Wildlife Foundation (AWF)
  50. Protected Areas of Liberia Updated: 2017 Forestry Development Authority, Liberia
  51. Forest Reserves of Kenya Updated: 2024 Kenya Forest Service, facilitated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development
  52. Forest Reserves of Tanzania Updated: 2021 Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) Agency - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  53. Protected Areas and OECMs of Eswatini Updated: 2024 Eswatini National Trust Commission - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  54. Protected Areas of Lesotho Updated: 2025 Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture, Department of Environment - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  55. Forest Reserves of Botswana Updated: 2024 Department of Forestry and Range Resources
  56. Protected areas of Nigeria Updated: 1978 Government of Nigeria, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Department of Forestry
  57. Gashaka Gumti National Park, Nigeria Updated: 2021 Africa Nature Investors Foundation
  58. Protected areas of Burundi Updated: 2020 Office Burundais pour la Protection de l'Environnement’ via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  59. Protected Areas of Egypt Updated: 2014 Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Ministry of Environment
  60. Protected Areas of Guinea-Bissau Updated: 2020 Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas/Instituto da Biodiversidade e das Areas Protegidas (IBAP), Guiné-Bissau
  61. Tanzanian Protected Areas Updated: 2009 GIS Section, Land Use Commission, Division of Forestry and Beekeeping, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania
  62. Protected areas of Equatorial Guinea Updated: 2020 El Ministro de Estado Encargado de Bosques, Pesca y Medio Ambiente and Conservación y Utilización Racional de los Ecosistemas Forestales de Guinea Ecuatorial (CUREF) via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  63. Forest Reserves of Uganda Updated: 2021 National Forestry Authority - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  64. Republic of Zambia - Forest Estate Updated: 1988 Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Zambia
  65. Protected Areas of Guinea Updated: 1989 Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT)/ Bureau pour Ie Développement de la Production Agricole (BDPA)/-SCET AGRI (1989)
  66. Forest Reserves of Malawi Updated: 2024 Department of Forestry, Malawi
  67. Protected Areas of the Cross River region Updated: 2006 Not Reported
  68. European inventory of Nationally Designated Areas (NatDA) as provided by the European Environment Agency (EEA) Updated: 2024 European Environment Agency (EEA)
  69. Protected Areas of Ascension Island Updated: 2021 Conservation Office, Ascension Island Government
  70. Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP) Updated: 2022 Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP)
  71. Protected areas of Tanzania Updated: 2010 WWF’s Conservation Science Program (CSP), USA
  72. Protected areas of Sao Tome and Principe Updated: 2020 Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  73. Designated and proposed protected areas of Madagascar Updated: 2018 WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office, Madagascar
  74. Protected Areas of the Comoros Updated: 2022 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  75. Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Cabo Verde Updated: 2024 Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Cabo Verde
  76. Nialama and Souti-Yanfu Forest Reserve, Guinea Updated: 2002 United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
  77. Kaya Forests Kenya Updated: 2009 Coastal Forest Conservation Unit, National Museums of Kenya
  78. Site Ramsar (France) Updated: 2017 Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel
  79. Community-owned conservancies in Kenya Updated: 2012 Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), Kenya
  80. Mara North Conservancy Updated: 2019 Mara North Conservancy
  81. Protected Areas of Djibouti Updated: 2014 Direction de l'Aménagement du Territoire et de l'Environnement/ Ministère de l'Habitat, de l'Urbanisme et de l'Environnement
  82. Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance Updated: 2020 Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA)
  83. Protected Areas of St Helena Updated: 2024 St Helena Government
  84. The SW/Niger Delta Forest Project protected areas Updated: 2021 The SW/Niger Delta Forest Project
  85. Gishwati-Mukura Protected Area Updated: 2020 Rwanda Development Board
  86. Protected Areas of Eritrea Updated: 2021 Ministry of Land, Water and Environment - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  87. Tristan da Cunha Marine Protection Zone Updated: 2021 Tristan da Cunha Government
  88. ABC RCEB Updated: 2022 Amis des Bonobos du Congo (ABC)
  89. Village Land Forest Reserves Updated: 2022 Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG) - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  90. Protected areas of Central African Republic Updated: 2024 Ministry of Water, Forests, Hunting and Fishing (MEFCP) and AFN via Central Africa Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  91. Source is currently unknown Updated: - Not Reported
  92. Game Reserves in Nigeria Updated: 1991 Nigerian Conservation Foundation
  93. Chad Basin Updated: 2003 National Parks Service, Nigeria
  94. Diawling National Park Updated: 2005 UNEP-WCMC
  95. Protected Areas of Nigeria Updated: 2007 Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria.
  96. Game reserves of Nigeria Updated: 1986 Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MANR), Nigeria
  97. Protected areas of Libya Updated: 2020 Environment General Authority, Libya
  98. Forest reserves of Zambia Updated: 1993 Forestry Department (FD), Zambia
  99. Protected Areas of Algeria Updated: 2020 Algeria NPF and PoWPA FP
  100. Natural monuments of Zambia Updated: 1993 National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC), Zambia
  101. Baturiya Wetlands Updated: 1991 Not Reported
  102. Haut Niger National Park - Kouya Core Area Updated: 2004 Bissau Guinea Transboundary Proposed Park (under Appui à la Gestion Intégrée des Ressources (Programme Régional) -AGIR- Project)
  103. Tamba Updated: 1991 Not Reported
  104. Other Areas of Benin Updated: 1993 Not Reported
  105. Protected Areas of St Helena Updated: 2005 Environment Planning & Development Section, St Helena
  106. Protected Areas Updated: 2000 Projet Conseiller Forestier (PCF), Guinea
  107. Kuyambana Updated: 1993 National Parks Service, Nigeria
  108. Forest reserves Nigeria Updated: 1978 Federal Department of Forestry, Nigeria
  109. Protected Areas of Togo Updated: 2018 Direction des ressources forestieres
  110. UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves Updated: 2003 UNESCO-MAB
  111. UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve Updated: 2005 Bureau of the International Co-ordinating Council of the MAB Programme (MAB-ICC) (19th Sesssion), UNESCO HQ Paris
  112. LMMAs of the Western Indian Ocean Database Updated: 2012 Blue Ventures, London, UK
  113. Protected Areas of Somalia Updated: 2018 Somali Widlife and natural history society (SWNHS) - faciliated by the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD)
  114. UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve Updated: 2007 Dept of G & W
  115. ICCAs in Bénin Updated: 2020 AMAF-BENIN
  116. UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves Updated: 2020 UNESCO-MAB and UNEP-WCMC
  117. PJUD BENIN, ICCAs Updated: 2021 PJUD BENIN
  118. ONG Education Service International (ESI), ICCAs Updated: 2021 ONG Education Service International (ESI)
  119. Benin Environment and Education Society (BEES NGO), ICCAs Updated: 2021 Benin Environment and Education Society (BEES NGO)
  120. Sacred sites of the Boé Updated: 2022 Chimbo Foundation
  121. Espoir Pour Tous ONG, ICCAs Updated: 2021 Espoir Pour Tous ONG, ICCAs
  122. VIVIA MIEL ONG, ICCAs Updated: 2021 VIVIA MIEL ONG
  123. ERAD-ONG, ICCAs Updated: 2021 ERAD-ONG
  124. Benin ICCAs Updated: 2024 ADJE ASSOGBA Bio Pierre

Designations

  • 93.69%
  • 0.07%
  • 6.24%

National designations

8381
  • Ancient Monument 1
  • Aquatic reserve 11
  • Arboretum 1
  • Area of Absolute Protection 1
  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 8
  • Area protected for habitat and species 1
  • Biological Reserve 29
  • Biosphere Reserve 3
  • Biotope Protection Order 5
  • Bird Reserve 4
  • Bird Sanctuary 10
  • Botanical Garden 3
  • Botanical Reserve 13
  • Botanic Garden 1
  • Buffer Zone 6
  • Chimpanzee Sanctuary 1
  • Classified Forest 544
  • Classified Forest and Partial Wildlife Reserve 7
  • Classified Forest and Ranch 1
  • Classified Forest and Total Wildlife Reserve 1
  • Communal Conservancy 86
  • Community Conservancy 21
  • Community Conservation Area 3
  • Community Forest 42
  • Community Forest Reserve 12
  • Community Nature Reserve 30
  • Community Protected Area 13
  • Community Reserve 3
  • Community Wildlife Management Area 5
  • Community Wildlife Reserve 1
  • Community Wildlife Sanctuary 1
  • Concession 3
  • Conservancy 5
  • Conservation and Development Area 1
  • Conservation Area 7
  • Controlled Hunting Area 39
  • Cultural Heritage Site 1
  • Developing Resources Protected Area 1
  • Ecological Corridor 2
  • Ecological park 1
  • Endemic garden 1
  • Environmental Protection Area 2
  • Faunal Migratory Corridor 3
  • Faunal reserve 2
  • Faunal Reserve 24
  • Fishing Reserve 6
  • Fish Protection Area 19
  • Flora Sanctuary 1
  • Forest Integral Biological Reserve 5
  • Forest Managed Biological Reserve 5
  • Forest Nature Reserve 57
  • Forest Plantation 23
  • Forest Reserve 3671
  • Forest Wilderness Area 12
  • Game controlled area 19
  • Game Management Area 36
  • Game Reserve 80
  • Game Sanctuary 1
  • Game Sanctuary / Non-hunting Forest Reserve 1
  • Geological Protected Area 1
  • Group Ranch 1
  • Habitat and species management area 1
  • Habitat and species management reserve 1
  • Historic site 9
  • Hunting area 2
  • Hunting Area 29
  • Hunting reserve 1
  • Hunting Reserve 23
  • Hunting Zone 3
  • Integral hunting reserve 1
  • Integral nature reserve 1
  • Integral Nature Reserve 7
  • Islet National Park 8
  • Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) 44
  • Locally Managed Marine Area 9
  • Managed Nature Reserve 1
  • Managed Resource Protected Area 15
  • Marine Community Protected Area 1
  • Marine Conservation Area 1
  • Marine national park 1
  • Marine National Park 18
  • Marine National Reserve 6
  • Marine Nature Park 1
  • Marine Nature Reserve 1
  • Marine park 9
  • Marine Park 4
  • Marine Protected Area 62
  • Marine Protected Area (MPA) 5
  • Marine protected landscape 3
  • Marine Protection Zone 1
  • Marine Reserve 2
  • Mountain Catchment Area 16
  • Mountain Range 3
  • Multiple Sustainable Use Reserve 1
  • Multiple Use Management Area 11
  • National Forest Park 1
  • National Forest Priority Area 57
  • National Monument 1
  • National Nature Reserve 4
  • National park 14
  • National Park 437
  • National Park - Buffer zone/Area of adhesion 1
  • National Park - Core Area 1
  • National Park-Partial Fauna Reserve Complex 1
  • National Reserve 33
  • National Sanctuary 5
  • Natural Heritage Protected Area 1
  • Natural monument 6
  • Natural Monument 28
  • Natural Park 24
  • Natural Reserve 5
  • Natural resource management area 4
  • Nature Conservation Area 4
  • Nature Conservation Reserve 2
  • Nature Forest Reserve 19
  • Nature Monument 2
  • Nature reserve 24
  • Nature Reserve 1547
  • Nature sanctuary 1
  • No or Non - Hunting Forest Reserve 3
  • Not Reported 24
  • Open area 24
  • Open Hunting Area 3
  • Other Area 6
  • Partial Faunal Reserve 1
  • Partial Fauna Reserve 1
  • Partial Natural Reserve 1
  • Partial Reserve 2
  • Partial Wildlife Reserve 4
  • Presidential reserve 1
  • Primate Nature Reserve 1
  • Private Nature Reserve 1
  • Private Protected Area 2
  • Private Ranch 4
  • Private Reserve 19
  • Proposed Forest Reserve 22
  • Protected 1
  • Protected and National Park 1
  • Protected area 1
  • Protected Area 43
  • Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources 2
  • Protected Environment 62
  • Protected Forest 6
  • Protected landscape 1
  • Protected Landscape 58
  • Protected seascape 3
  • Protected Seascape 1
  • Range Management Areas 2
  • Recreation Park 14
  • Reforestation Area 7
  • Regional Nature Park 1
  • Regional Park 3
  • Reserve 1
  • Resource Reserve 6
  • Sacred Forest 14
  • Sacred site 178
  • Safari Area 16
  • Sanctuary 20
  • Sanctuary and Closed Forest Reserve 1
  • Satellite Reserve 1
  • Scientific Reserve 4
  • Shell Reserve 4
  • Special Nature Reserve 2
  • Special Reserve 33
  • State Forest 46
  • Strict Hunting Reserve 1
  • Strict Nature Reserve 20
  • Sylvo-pastoral Reserve and Partial Wildlife Reserve 1
  • Terrestrial protected area 2
  • Total Wildlife Reserve 9
  • Turtle Reserve 1
  • Urban Nature Reserve 1
  • Village Land Forest Reserve 30
  • Voluntary Nature Reserve 1
  • Wetland Reserve 1
  • Wetland Zone of National Importance 46
  • Wilderness Area 1
  • Wildlife Management Area 117
  • Wildlife Reserve 49
  • Wildlife Sanctuary 28
  • Zone de pêche réservée 1

Regional designations

6
  • Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (Barcelona Convention) 6

International designations

558
  • Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 415
  • UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 82
  • World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) 61

citation

UNEP-WCMC (2025). Protected Area Profile for Africa from the World Database on Protected Areas, March 2025. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net

Downloads
Citation

UNEP-WCMC and IUCN (2025), Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) [Online], March 2025, Cambridge, UK: UNEP-WCMC and IUCN. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net.