WDPCA: Protected and Conserved Areas in France with Geospatial Boundaries

UNEP-WCMC maintains this geospatial dataset of marine and terrestrial protected areas in France, updated monthly 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) into a single repository.

Use Cases

• Spatial analysis of biodiversity risks by intersecting project boundaries with protected area polygons
• Monitoring progress toward the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3 using terrestrial and marine area designations
• Environmental policy planning by identifying gaps in the French network of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs)

Strengths

• Monthly update frequency ensures data reflects current conservation status
• Official UN Environment Programme and IUCN joint product
• Available in four geospatial formats including GeoJSON and GeoPackage

Limitations

• Specific attribute column names are not defined in the source metadata
• Geographic scope is restricted to France and its territories

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Compiled from government and stakeholder reports

Freshness

Monthly updates

Geography

France