WDPCA: Namibia Protected and Conserved Areas Geospatial Data

Geospatial boundaries and metadata for marine and terrestrial protected areas in Namibia are provided through the World Database on Protected and Conserved Areas (WDPCA). Managed by the UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, this resource is updated monthly to track progress toward international biodiversity targets. It integrates both the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM).

Use Cases

• Mapping conservation boundaries using GeoJSON coordinates for environmental impact assessments
• Calculating land coverage percentages to track Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3
• Identifying biodiversity risks within project boundaries for commercial planning via IBAT integration

Strengths

• Official data source for UN Sustainable Development Goals reporting
• Integrates WDPA and WD-OECM conservation categories into a single framework
• Available in multiple geospatial formats including GeoJSON and GeoPackage

Limitations

• Data accuracy depends on the reporting frequency and precision of national government agencies
• Temporal coverage for individual area designations is not specified in the summary

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.

Geography

Namibia