Protected Areas

Protected Areas groups places formally designated by law, treaty or international agreement to conserve nature, wildlife, ecosystems, or natural and cultural heritage, spanning national parks, nature reserves, wildlife refuges and sanctuaries, marine protected areas, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and natural World Heritage sites, and wilderness areas across every country. Belongs here: any specific named protected area, its designation category, the legal instrument or authority that established it, and its conservation purpose or governing body. Does not belong here: the landform or body of water a protected area sits on or around, filed under Landforms or Bodies of Water; the country, state or territory containing it, filed under Countries, Regions or States or Territories; and general ecological or physical processes, filed under Physical Processes.