WDPCA: United Kingdom Protected and Conserved Area Boundaries

This geospatial dataset maps marine and terrestrial protected areas and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) across the United Kingdom. Maintained by the UNEP-WCMC as part of the Protected Planet Initiative, the records are updated monthly to support international biodiversity reporting.

Use Cases

• Spatial analysis of marine vs terrestrial conservation coverage using area polygons
• Environmental impact assessments by overlaying project sites with protected area boundaries
• Tracking progress toward Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3

Strengths

• Monthly update cycle
• Integration of WDPA and WD-OECM frameworks
• Available in four formats including GeoPackage and GeoJSON

Limitations

• Dependent on government reporting accuracy
• Specific attribute field definitions are not provided in the summary

Provenance

Source

UNEP-WCMC and IUCN

Collection Method

Compiled from government and stakeholder reports

Freshness

Updated monthly; last recorded update March 2026.

Geography

United Kingdom