WDPCA: Protected and Conserved Areas in the Cook Islands

This geospatial dataset provides boundaries and metadata for marine and terrestrial protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) in the Cook Islands. Managed by the UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, the data is updated monthly to support international biodiversity reporting. It serves as the primary source for tracking progress toward the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Use Cases

• Spatial analysis of marine vs terrestrial conservation zones to track Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
• Integration with the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) to identify biodiversity risks within project boundaries
• Reporting on Sustainable Development Goal indicators related to protected area coverage

Strengths

• Official UN-backed source managed by UNEP-WCMC and IUCN
• Monthly update cycle ensures data reflects recent policy changes
• Combines both WDPA and WD-OECM designations into a single resource
• Available in multiple GIS formats including GeoJSON and GeoPackage

Limitations

• Specific attribute names and record counts are not explicitly listed in the source metadata
• Geographic scope is restricted to the Cook Islands

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Compiled from government reports and stakeholder submissions through the Protected Planet Initiative

Freshness

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

Geography

Cook Islands