WDPCA: Protected and Conserved Areas in Belgium

UNEP-WCMC and IUCN provide this geospatial dataset of marine and terrestrial protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) in Belgium. Updated monthly as part of the Protected Planet Initiative, it integrates the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and the World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM).

Use Cases

• Calculating the percentage of terrestrial and marine territory under protection to track progress toward the 30x30 goal
• Spatial analysis of biodiversity risks for infrastructure projects using the geospatial boundaries in GEOJSON or GEOPACKAGE formats
• Reporting on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators related to ecosystem conservation in Belgium

Strengths

• Official UN-backed source managed by UNEP-WCMC and IUCN
• Monthly update frequency ensures current conservation status
• Available in multiple GIS-ready formats including GEOPACKAGE and GEOSERVICE

Limitations

• Specific column names and schema details are not explicitly listed in the source metadata
• Data accuracy is dependent on the reporting quality of the Belgian government and local stakeholders

Provenance

Source

The UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Collection Method

Compiled from government reports and stakeholder data as part of the Protected Planet Initiative

Freshness

Updated on a monthly basis; last recorded update was March 2026.

Geography

Belgium