There has been significant growth in the global protected and conserved area network over the past few decades (see Protected Planet Report 2024). However, this increase in coverage will only result in positive outcomes for biodiversity and people if it is accompanied by effective governance and management. This is recognized in Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which highlights the need to ensure that 30% of terrestrial and inland water areas, and of marine and coastal areas, are “effectively conserved and managed” and “equitably governed” within protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) by 2030.
The Global Database on Protected Area Management Effectiveness (GD-PAME)* collates data on effectiveness for the world’s protected areas and OECMs. It is hosted on the Protected Planet website, along with the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) at www.protectedplanet.net. Together, these databases play a central role in tracking progress towards global commitments relating to area-based conservation, such as Target 3 of the KMGBF.
This year, the GD-PAME has been expanded to allow for more detailed reporting on effectiveness using a range of assessment tools. In addition to storing information on the type of assessment that has been conducted (i.e. which assessment tool was used), it now contains new data fields to store information relating to the assessment results. These changes, outlined in the updated User Manual, provide a pathway for the GD-PAME to provide high-level insights into the governance, design, management and outcomes of protected and conserved areas. Ultimately, they will enable Protected Planet to provide significantly more meaningful data on the extent and impact of global conservation efforts.
The new User Manual, available here, was developed in collaboration with partners of the Protected Planet Initiative and aims to support data providers and users. Over the coming months, the Protected Planet Team will be reaching out to data providers to communicate the changes and facilitate reporting on effectiveness. Any questions can be directed to the Protected Planet team at [email protected]
* Note: The scope of the GD-PAME has evolved since it was first established to collate data from a wider range of effectiveness assessment methods, including but not limited to protected area management effectiveness (PAME) tools. The name of the database (‘GD-PAME’) will be gradually phased out as part of a broader redevelopment of the Protected Planet databases. An updated version of the user manual will be released, and changes to the website will be made, once this transition is complete. These changes will not affect the data that are stored within the database.
Tracking progress towards global targets for protected and conserved areas.