WDPCA: Costa Rica Protected and Conserved Areas Geospatial Data

UNEP-WCMC provides this geospatial dataset of marine and terrestrial protected areas and conservation measures in Costa Rica, updated as of March 2026. It integrates the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and the World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM). The data supports global biodiversity reporting for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Use Cases

• Spatial analysis of terrestrial and marine conservation boundaries to identify gaps in protected area coverage
• Reporting on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators related to biodiversity
• Environmental risk assessment for commercial projects to identify biodiversity risks within project boundaries

Strengths

• Official UN-backed data from UNEP-WCMC and IUCN
• Includes both WDPA and WD-OECM conservation categories
• Available in four formats including GeoJSON and GeoPackage

Limitations

• Specific record counts and attribute schemas are not provided in the metadata
• Spatial boundaries do not indicate the quality or effectiveness of area management

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Compiled from government submissions and stakeholder collaborations

Freshness

Updated monthly; last record update March 2026

Geography

Costa Rica