WDPCA: Protected and Conserved Areas in Niger Geospatial Data

This geospatial dataset documents marine and terrestrial protected areas and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) within Niger. Managed by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) in collaboration with IUCN, the records are updated monthly to support international biodiversity reporting. The data serves as the primary source for tracking progress toward the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Use Cases

• Calculating the percentage of land under conservation in Niger using GEOPACKAGE spatial layers
• Identifying biodiversity risks for commercial projects by overlaying project sites with GEOJSON boundaries
• Reporting on Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3 using official area designations

Strengths

• Monthly update cycle ensures temporal relevance
• Official UN-recognized source for SDG and Target 3 tracking
• Available in four GIS-compatible formats including GEOJSON, GEOPACKAGE, and GEOSERVICE

Limitations

• Specific attribute field names are not listed in the source metadata
• Relies on voluntary reporting from national governments which may vary in precision and frequency

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 monthly; last recorded update March 2026.

Geography

Niger