WDPCA: Sweden Protected and Conserved Areas Geospatial Data

UNEP-WCMC maintains this geospatial dataset of marine and terrestrial protected areas in Sweden, updated 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 framework. The data supports international reporting for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Use Cases

• Spatial analysis of marine and terrestrial boundaries to track progress toward the 30% conservation target by 2030
• Environmental risk assessment for commercial projects by intersecting project boundaries with protected area polygons
• Integration into monitoring systems like Global Forest Watch to track land-use changes within designated conservation zones

Strengths

• Official UN-backed data from UNEP-WCMC and IUCN
• Combines both WDPA and WD-OECM frameworks into one source
• Available in four formats including GeoJSON, GeoPackage, and CSV

Limitations

• Specific attribute schemas and row counts are not provided in the source metadata
• Geographic scope is restricted to Sweden, requiring external datasets for cross-border analysis

Provenance

Source

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 according to the Protected Planet Initiative.

Geography

Sweden