WDPCA: Protected and Conserved Areas in Cuba (2026 Update)

UNEP-WCMC and IUCN maintain this geospatial dataset of marine and terrestrial protected areas in Cuba, updated as of March 2026. It merges the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and the World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) to support international biodiversity reporting.

Use Cases

• Calculating the percentage of conserved land and water using terrestrial and marine area polygons
• Reporting on Sustainable Development Goal indicators by aggregating protected area status
• Identifying biodiversity risks for commercial projects by intersecting project coordinates with WDPCA spatial boundaries

Strengths

• Official UN-backed data from UNEP-WCMC and IUCN
• Available in four formats including GEOPACKAGE and GEOSERVICE
• Monthly update cycle for high temporal relevance

Limitations

• Specific row counts and attribute schemas are not detailed in the metadata
• Spatial boundaries represent legal designations and may not reflect real-time ecological health

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Compiled from government reports and stakeholder collaborations

Freshness

Updated on a monthly basis.

Geography

Cuba