WDPCA: Ethiopia Protected and Conserved Areas Geospatial Data

This geospatial dataset maps terrestrial and marine protected areas and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) across Ethiopia. Produced by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and IUCN, the records are updated monthly to facilitate international biodiversity reporting.

Use Cases

• Spatial intersection analysis to identify biodiversity risks within specific project boundaries
• Calculating the total land area under conservation to report on Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
• Monitoring the distribution of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) versus traditional protected areas

Strengths

• Combines WDPA and WD-OECM data into a single unified database
• Official UN-backed source for biodiversity reporting
• Available in four formats including GeoJSON and GeoPackage for GIS compatibility

Limitations

• Attribute schema and specific column names are not detailed in the source metadata
• Data accuracy depends on the reporting frequency and quality of national government submissions

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Compiled from government reports and stakeholder submissions via the Protected Planet Initiative.

Freshness

Updated monthly to reflect the most current conservation status.

Geography

Ethiopia