WDPCA: Nigeria Protected and Conserved Areas Geospatial Data

UNEP-WCMC provides this geospatial dataset of marine and terrestrial protected areas in Nigeria, updated as of March 2026. It integrates the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) to support global biodiversity reporting and policy decisions.

Use Cases

• Spatial analysis of terrestrial and marine conservation zones using GEOJSON or GEOPACKAGE geometries
• Calculating the percentage of Nigerian land and water under protection to track Sustainable Development Goals
• Identifying biodiversity risks within project boundaries for environmental impact assessments using GEOSERVICE layers

Strengths

• Official UN-backed data from UNEP-WCMC and IUCN
• Available in four formats including GEOPACKAGE, GEOJSON, and GEOSERVICE
• Updated monthly to reflect current conservation status

Limitations

• Attribute schema is not explicitly defined in the source documentation
• Geospatial precision is dependent on the reporting accuracy of contributing national agencies and stakeholders

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Compiled from government reports and stakeholder data in collaboration with IUCN

Freshness

Updated on a monthly basis.

Geography

Nigeria