Percent of Total Land Area Protected (all designations), 2003
| Analytical Overview |
| All calculations for the analyses were performed by WRI using the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) point file. This file contains a list of all nationally-designated protected areas, joined with a corresponding table showing their area in hectares (provided by UNEP-WCMC). The original file was modified to exclude the following sites, as recommended by UNEP-WCMC: 1. All sites with the DESIGNATE field marked "Cloud Forest Sites" and "Cloud Forest Regions" were excluded. 2. All sites with the STATUS field marked "Degazetted", "Proposed", "In preparation", "Recommended", "Unknown", and "Unset" were excluded. 3. All sites with negative numbers in the SITE_CODE field were excluded. All marine sites were excluded. |
Map Projection
Robinson
Map Description
The above map shows the percent of total terrestrial area that is listed as "protected" by the World Database on Protected Areas(WDPA). All terrestrial sites designated by IUCN (in categories I-VI) are included; in addition, the map includes sites recognized by WDPA which have not yet been assigned an IUCN category.
An IUCN Management Protected Area is defined by IUCN as "an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means."
IUCN categorizes protected areas by management objective and has identified six distinct categories of protected areas (all categories shown on the map above):
- Category Ia. Strict nature reserve: A protected area managed mainly for scientific research and monitoring; an area of land and/or sea possessing some outstanding or representative ecosystems, geological or physiological features and/or species.
- Category Ib. Wilderness area: A protected area managed mainly for wilderness protection; a large area of unmodified or slightly modified land and/or sea retaining its natural character and influence, without permanent or significant habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural condition.
- Category II. National park: A protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation; a natural area of land and/or sea designated to: (a) protect the ecological integrity of one or more ecosystems for present and future generations; (b) exclude exploitation or occupation inimical to the purposes of designation of the area; and (c) provide a foundation for spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational, and visitor opportunities, all of which must be environmentally and culturally compatible.
- Category III. Natural monument: A protected area managed mainly for conservation of specific natural features; an area containing one or more specific natural or natural/cultural features that is of outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity, representative or aesthetic qualities, or cultural significance.
- Category IV. Habitat/species management area: A protected area managed mainly for conservation through management intervention; an area of land and/or sea subject to active intervention for management purposes so as to ensure the maintenance of habitats and/or to meet the requirements of specific species.
- Category V. Protected landscape/seascape: A protected area managed mainly for landscape/seascape conservation and recreation; an area of land, with coast and sea as appropriate, where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with significant aesthetic, ecological, and/or cultural value, and often with high biological diversity.
- Category VI. Managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems. These areas contain predominantly unmodified natural systems, managed to ensure long-term protection and maintenance of biological diversity, while also providing a sustainable flow of natural products and services to meet community needs.
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Citation:
WRI 2003
Sources:
- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2003, World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) Version 6. Cambridge, U.K.:WCMC.