WDPCA: Protected and Conserved Areas of the Cayman Islands

This geospatial dataset provides boundaries and metadata for marine and terrestrial protected areas in the Cayman Islands, managed by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). It integrates the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) as of March 2026. The data serves as the official record for tracking progress toward international biodiversity targets, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Use Cases

• Calculating the percentage of terrestrial and marine territory under conservation to track Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
• Identifying biodiversity risks and opportunities within project boundaries for environmental impact assessments
• Mapping protected area networks to inform regional conservation planning and policy decisions

Strengths

• Official UN-backed data source for global biodiversity reporting
• Combines WDPA and WD-OECM frameworks into a single resource
• Available in multiple GIS-ready formats including GEOJSON and GEOPACKAGE

Limitations

• Specific attribute schema and column definitions are not provided in the metadata
• Relies on reporting frequency from local government and stakeholders

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Compiled and managed by UNEP-WCMC in collaboration with governments and international stakeholders.

Freshness

Updated on a monthly basis by UNEP-WCMC.

Geography

Cayman Islands