Africa

8448 Total Protected Areas
985 With management effectiveness evaluations
Terrestrial Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas
Other effective area-based conservation measures
0 Total Other effective area-based conservation measures
58 Number of countries
Polygons/Points ratio
Polygons 91%
Points 9%

Terrestrial Protected Areas Coverage

14.23% Coverage

4,276,552km2 Land Area Protected

30048426km2 Total Land Area

Marine Protected Areas Coverage

11.63% Coverage

1,736,583km2 Marine and Coastal Area Protected

14935206km2 Marine Area Protected

Disclaimer: These statistics might differ from those reported officially by countries due to difference in methodologies and datasets used to assess protected area coverage and differences in the base maps used to measure terrestrial and marine area of a country or territory.

IUCN Management Categories

Governance types

Sources (135)

  1. Protected Areas of Angola Updated: 2014 Ministério do Ambiente
  2. Protected areas of Benin Updated: 1984 Insititut National de l'Information géographique et forestière, France
  3. Protected Areas of Botswana Updated: 2013 Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Botswana
  4. Protected areas of Cameroon Updated: 2020 Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, Cameroon via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  5. Protected areas of Central African Republic Updated: 2020 Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  6. Protected areas of Chad Updated: 2020 Direction des Parcs Nationaux et Reserves de Faune via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  7. Protected areas of Congo Updated: 2020 Agence Congolaise de la Faune et des Aires Protégées (ACFAP) via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  8. Protected Areas of Ethiopia Updated: 2018 Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority
  9. Protected areas of Gabon Updated: 2020 Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  10. Protected Areas of Ghana Updated: 2020 The Forestry Commission of Ghana
  11. Protected Areas of Cote d'Ivoire Updated: 2020 Office Ivoirien des Parcs et Reserves
  12. Protected areas of Kenya Updated: 2020 Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)
  13. Malawi-Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area (Malawi section), and National Parks and Wildlife Reserves of Malawi Updated: 2018 Department of National Parks and Wildlife
  14. Protected areas of Gabon Updated: 1993 Insititut Géographique National - Paris, France
  15. Protected Areas of Mozambique Updated: 2019 National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC)
  16. Protected Areas of Niger Updated: 2020 Niger NPF and PoWPA FP
  17. Protected areas of Nigeria Updated: 1990 Nigerian Conservation Foundation
  18. Protected areas of Rwanda Updated: 2020 Ministry of Environment and Lands, Rwanda via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  19. Senegal protected areas Updated: 2007 Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD), Senegal
  20. Protected Areas of Senegal Updated: 2007 Cheikh Mbow l'Université Cheikh Anta DIOP de Dakar (UCAD), Senegal
  21. Protected Areas of Senegal Updated: 1980 Insititut National de l'Information géographique et forestière, France
  22. South Africa Protected Areas Database (SAPAD) Updated: 2020 Department of Environmental Affairs
  23. Protected Areas of Namibia Updated: 2014 Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), Ministry of Environment and Tourism
  24. Protected Areas of South Sudan Updated: 2014 South Sudan National Wildlife Service (SSWS); Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) South Sudan Program
  25. National Parks of Tanzania Updated: 2016 Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA)
  26. Protected Areas of Tunisia Updated: 2016 Ministère de l’Agriculture des ressources hydrauliques et de la pêche
  27. Uganda Wildlife Authority's protected areas Updated: 2020 Uganda Wildlife Authority
  28. Protected areas of Burkina Faso Updated: 1980 Ministère de l'environnement et du tourisme, Service de l'amenagement forestier, Burkina Faso
  29. Burkina Faso Protected Areas Updated: 2003 Ministere de l'Environnement et de l'Eau, Burkina Faso
  30. Protected areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo Updated: 2020 ICCN via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  31. Protected Areas of Zambia Updated: 2019 Department of National Parks and Wildlife
  32. Protected Areas of Zimbabwe Updated: 2020 Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority
  33. Protected areas of Madagascar Updated: 2020 Ministry of Environment
  34. Protected Areas of Mauritius Updated: 2014 National Parks and Conservation Service, Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security
  35. Protected areas of Seychelles Updated: 2020 Ministry of Environment, Republic of Seychelles
  36. UNESCO World Heritage Sites Updated: 2020 IUCN World Heritage Programme
  37. Protected Areas in Cameroon and Gabon Updated: 2002 WWF Gabon
  38. Protected areas in the Congo Basin Updated: 2007 African Forest Observatory (FORAF), Democratic Republic of Congo
  39. Protected Areas of The Gambia Updated: 2014 Department of Parks and Wildlife Management and National Environment Agency, Banjul, The Gambia
  40. Protected Areas of Mali Updated: 2014 Mali NPF and PoWPA FP
  41. Protected Areas of Sudan Updated: 2014 Sudan NPF and PoWPA FP
  42. Protected Areas of Togo Updated: 2020 Ministère de l'environnement, du développement durable et de la protection de la nature
  43. Road Map of Cameroon Updated: 1988 Forestry Department of Cameroon
  44. Protected Areas of Egypt Updated: 2011 Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Ministry of Environment
  45. Privately protected areas of Kenya Updated: 2014 Zeitz Foundation, Kenya
  46. UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve Updated: 2018 UNESCO-MAB
  47. Protected Areas of Morocco Updated: 2014 Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification (HCEFLCD)
  48. Protected Areas of Algeria Updated: 2020 Algérie Direction Générale des Forêts
  49. Aires Protégées du Mali Updated: 2013 Ministère de l'Environnement et de l'Assainissement, Direction des Eaux et Forêts, Bamako, Mali
  50. West African Protected Areas from Guinea to Togo Updated: 1999 Information Tools Program and Conservation International West Africa Program
  51. Protected Areas of Sierra Leone, Update of Kangari Hills Forest Reserve and Loma National Park Updated: 2012 Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment, Environment Protection Agency, Sierra Leone
  52. Ankasa Game, Bia, Gbele , Mole and Kyabobo protected areas Updated: 2007 Protected Areas Development Programme (PAPD II), Ghana
  53. Eritrea Protected Areas Updated: 1990 Not Reported
  54. Protected areas of Ethiopia Updated: 1991 State Forest Conservation and Development Department, Ethiopia
  55. Protected areas and community conservation areas in Kenya Updated: 2012 African Wildlife Foundation (AWF)
  56. Protected Areas of Liberia Updated: 2017 Forestry Development Authority, Liberia
  57. The Forest Estate, Sierra Leone Updated: 1990 Directorate of Overseas Surveys, UK
  58. Forest Administrative Boundaries and Stations, Kenya Updated: 1980 Survey Branch of the Kenya Forest Department
  59. Protected areas of Congo Updated: 2006 Centre National d’Inventaire et d’Aménagement des Ressources Forestières et Fauniques (CNIAF), Ministère de l'Economie Forestière (MEF), Republic of Congo
  60. Forest Reserves of Tanzania Updated: 2020 Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) Agency
  61. Protected Areas of Swaziland Updated: 2020 Swaziland National Trust Commission
  62. Protected Areas of Lesotho Updated: 2020 Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture, Department of Environment
  63. Protected areas of Nigeria Updated: 1978 Government of Nigeria, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Department of Forestry
  64. Protected areas of Kenya Updated: 2003 UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya
  65. Protected areas of Burundi Updated: 2020 Office Burundais pour la Protection de l'Environnement’ via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  66. Protected Areas of Egypt Updated: 2014 Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Ministry of Environment
  67. Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance Updated: 2012 UNEP-WCMC and Ramsar Secretariat
  68. Protected Areas of Guinea-Bissau Updated: 2020 Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas/Instituto da Biodiversidade e das Areas Protegidas (IBAP), Guiné-Bissau
  69. Tanzanian Protected Areas Updated: 2009 GIS Section, Land Use Commission, Division of Forestry and Beekeeping, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania
  70. Source is currently unknown Updated: - Not Reported
  71. Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance Updated: 2020 Ramsar Secretariat, on behalf of Ramsar Contracting Parties
  72. Protected areas of Equatorial Guinea Updated: 2020 El Ministro de Estado Encargado de Bosques, Pesca y Medio Ambiente and Conservación y Utilización Racional de los Ecosistemas Forestales de Guinea Ecuatorial (CUREF) via Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  73. Forest Reserves of Uganda Updated: 2019 National Forestry Authority, Plot 10/20, Spring Road, P.O. Box 70863, Kampala, Uganda
  74. Republic of Zambia - Forest Estate Updated: 1988 Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Zambia
  75. Protected Areas of Guinea Updated: 1989 Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT)/ Bureau pour Ie Développement de la Production Agricole (BDPA)/-SCET AGRI (1989)
  76. Mount Nimba World Heritage Site and National site Updated: 2004 Not Reported
  77. Protected Areas of Sierra Leone; Update of Loma National Park Updated: 2012 Ministry of Lands; Country Planning and the Environment; Environment Protection Agency; Sierra Leone
  78. Protected Areas of Sierra Leone Updated: 2014 Government of Sierra Leone, EPA Sierra Leone
  79. Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Protected Areas dataset Updated: 2002 Consultant on behalf of Conservation International, Washington, USA
  80. Protected Areas of the Cross River region Updated: 2006 Not Reported
  81. Common Database on Designated Areas as provided by the European Environment Agency (EEA) Updated: 2020 European Environment Agency (EEA)
  82. Protected Areas of Ascension Island Updated: 2019 Conservation Office, Ascension Island Government
  83. Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP) Updated: 2017 Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP)
  84. Protected areas of Tanzania Updated: 2010 WWF’s Conservation Science Program (CSP), USA
  85. Protected areas of Sao Tome and Principe Updated: 2020 Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  86. Protected Areas of the Comoros Updated: 2020 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment
  87. Natural parks of Cape Verde Updated: 2008 UNDP/GEF Protected Areas Project - Cape Verde
  88. Nialama and Souti-Yanfu Forest Reserve, Guinea Updated: 2002 United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
  89. Kaya Forests Kenya Updated: 2009 Coastal Forest Conservation Unit, National Museums of Kenya
  90. MPA's in Senegal Updated: 2007 WWF Senegal
  91. Gola Rainforest National Park Updated: 2011 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
  92. Kafa UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Ethiopia Updated: 2010 Head of Project Office in Ethiopia, The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  93. Site Ramsar (France) Updated: 2017 Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel
  94. Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance Updated: 2020 Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA)
  95. Community-owned conservancies in Kenya Updated: 2012 Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), Kenya
  96. Mara North Conservancy Updated: 2019 Mara North Conservancy
  97. Protected Areas of Djibouti Updated: 2014 Direction de l'Aménagement du Territoire et de l'Environnement/ Ministère de l'Habitat, de l'Urbanisme et de l'Environnement
  98. Classified Forests of Guinea Updated: 2020 Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  99. Protected Areas of Senegal Updated: 2007 UNEP-WCMC
  100. Protected Areas of Libya Updated: 2014 Nature Conservation Dept, Environment General Authority
  101. Protected Areas of Sierra Leone Updated: 2003 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Environment, Wildlife Conservation Branch (WCB), Sierra Leone
  102. Protected Areas of Nigeria Updated: 2007 Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria.
  103. Game reserves of Nigeria Updated: 1986 Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MANR), Nigeria
  104. Forest Reserves of Kenya Updated: 1993 Kenya Indigenous Forest Conservation Programme (KIFCON)
  105. Protected areas Ethiopia Updated: 2003 Environment Protection Authority, Ethiopia
  106. Game Reserves in Nigeria Updated: 1991 Nigerian Conservation Foundation
  107. Chad Basin Updated: 2003 National Parks Service, Nigeria
  108. Diawling National Park Updated: 2005 UNEP-WCMC
  109. Protected areas of Sierra Leone Updated: 1993 Outamba-Kilimi National Park (OKNP), Sierra Leone
  110. Protected Areas of Algeria Updated: 2020 Algeria NPF and PoWPA FP
  111. Forest reserves of Zambia Updated: 1993 Forestry Department (FD), Zambia
  112. Forest Reserves of Malawi Updated: 1993 Department of Forestry, Malawi
  113. Kuyambana Updated: 1993 National Parks Service, Nigeria
  114. Forest reserves Nigeria Updated: 1978 Federal Department of Forestry, Nigeria
  115. Protected Areas of Togo Updated: 2018 Direction des ressources forestieres
  116. Natural monuments of Zambia Updated: 1993 National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC), Zambia
  117. Protected Areas of Ethiopia Updated: 1993 Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organisation (EWCO)
  118. Baturiya Wetlands Updated: 1991 Not Reported
  119. Haut Niger National Park - Kouya Core Area Updated: 2004 Bissau Guinea Transboundary Proposed Park (under Appui à la Gestion Intégrée des Ressources (Programme Régional) -AGIR- Project)
  120. Tamba Updated: 1991 Not Reported
  121. Tanzania Protected Areas Updated: 2009 WWF US
  122. Protected Areas of St Helena Updated: 2005 Environment Planning & Development Section, St Helena
  123. Kambui North Updated: 1990 Not Reported
  124. Protected Areas Updated: 2000 Projet Conseiller Forestier (PCF), Guinea
  125. Other Areas of Benin Updated: 1993 Not Reported
  126. Malawi - Zambia Transfrontier (Malawi section) Updated: 2004 Peace Parks Foundation
  127. Protected Areas of Ethiopia Updated: 2007 Head of Wildlife Conservation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Republic of Ethiopia
  128. UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve Updated: 2005 Bureau of the International Co-ordinating Council of the MAB Programme (MAB-ICC) (19th Sesssion), UNESCO HQ Paris
  129. UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve Updated: 2007 Dept of G & W
  130. UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves Updated: 2003 UNESCO-MAB
  131. UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves Updated: 2012 UNESCO-MAB and UNEP-WCMC
  132. Marine Protected Areas of Sierra Leone Updated: 2012 Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Sierra Leone
  133. LMMAs of the Western Indian Ocean Database Updated: 2012 Blue Ventures, London, UK
  134. Protected Areas of Somalia Updated: 2018 Somali Widlife and natural history society (SWNHS)
  135. ICCAs in Bénin Updated: 2020 AMAF-BENIN

Designations

National designations

7889
  • Marine Reserve 2
  • Nature Monument 2
  • Nature Reserve 1490
  • National Park 466
  • Biological Reserve 14
  • Marine Park 14
  • Forest Reserve 3671
  • Private Reserve 19
  • National Reserve 37
  • National Sanctuary 5
  • Natural Monument 26
  • Marine Protected Area 50
  • National Park - Core Area 1
  • Presidential Reserve 1
  • Protected Area 27
  • Marine National Park 19
  • Wildlife Sanctuary 26
  • Wildlife Reserve 46
  • Natural Park 27
  • Protected Landscape 8
  • Wilderness Area 1
  • National Monument 1
  • Recreation Park 9
  • Strict Nature Reserve 19
  • Faunal Reserve 36
  • Integral nature reserve 2
  • Natural Reserve 2
  • Game Reserve 77
  • Special Reserve 32
  • National Nature Reserve 3
  • Safari Area 16
  • Sanctuary 18
  • Controlled Hunting Area 18
  • Scientific Reserve 4
  • Biosphere Reserve 3
  • Reserve 1
  • Partial Reserve 3
  • Hunting Zone 3
  • Partial Faunal Reserve 5
  • Partial Wildlife Reserve 4
  • Total Wildlife Reserve 9
  • Conservation Area 6
  • Nature Conservation Area 4
  • Community Nature Reserve 28
  • Integral Nature Reserve 2
  • Wetland Reserve 1
  • Protected Forest 6
  • Game Management Area 36
  • Wildlife Management Area 119
  • Regional Nature Park 1
  • Regional Park 3
  • Resource Reserve 6
  • Classified Forest 438
  • Faunal reserve 1
  • No or Non - Hunting Forest Reserve 3
  • Hunting Area 26
  • Shell Reserve 4
  • Nature reserve 23
  • Botanical Reserve 17
  • Marine National Reserve 6
  • Environmental Protection Area 1
  • Locally Managed Marine Area 37
  • Bird Sanctuary 10
  • Hunting Reserve 24
  • Fishery Reserve 5
  • National Forest Park 1
  • Community Wildlife Management Area 5
  • Other Area 6
  • Game Sanctuary / Non-hunting Forest Reserve 1
  • Partial Fauna Reserve 1
  • Marine Nature Reserve 1
  • Special Nature Reserve 2
  • Not Reported 24
  • Nature Conservation Reserve 2
  • Aquatic Reserve 11
  • Multiple Use Management Area 11
  • Biological and Ecological Interest Site 101
  • Forest Managed Biological Reserve 3
  • Forest Integral Biological Reserve 5
  • Wetland Zone of National Importance 46
  • Land Acquired By Conservatoire Du Littoral (National Seaside And Lakeside Conservancy) 41
  • Private Ranch 4
  • Game Sanctuary 2
  • Conservation and Development Area 1
  • State Forest 43
  • Bird Reserve 5
  • National Forest Priority Area 58
  • Game controlled area 19
  • Mountain Catchment Area 16
  • Forest Nature Reserve 53
  • Community Conservancy 21
  • Community Wildlife Sanctuary 1
  • Sanctuary and Closed Forest Reserve 1
  • Biotope Protection Order 5
  • National Park - Buffer Zone/Area Of Adhesion 1
  • Ecological Park 1
  • Community Conservation Area 3
  • Private Nature Reserve 1
  • Botanical Garden 3
  • Community Reserve 2
  • Zone de pêche réservée 1
  • Chimpanzee Sanctuary 1
  • Private Protected Area 2
  • Marine Community Protected Area 1
  • Faunal Migratory Corridor 3
  • Primate Nature Reserve 1
  • Protected Environment 39
  • Paysage Harmonieux Protégé 16
  • Reserve de ressource naturel 1
  • Community Forest 37
  • Marine Nature Park 2
  • Reforestation Area 7
  • Flora Sanctuary 1
  • Multiple Sustainable Use Reserve 1
  • Communal Conservancy 79
  • Concession 7
  • Developing Resources Protected Area 1
  • Geological Protected Area 1
  • Natural Heritage Protected Area 1
  • Community Wildlife Reserve 1
  • Réserve de Ressources Naturelles 1
  • New Protected Area 4
  • Nouvelle Aire Protégée 1
  • Group Ranch 1
  • Hunting reserve 1
  • Forest Wilderness Area 12
  • Islet National Park 8
  • Ancient Monument 1
  • Area of absolute protection 1
  • Marine protected landscape 3
  • Area protected for habitat and species 1
  • Terrestrial protected area 2
  • Managed Nature Reserve 1
  • Nature Forest Reserve 17
  • Buffer Zone 7
  • Endemic garden 1
  • Partial Natural Reserve 1
  • Open area 24
  • Forest Plantation 23
  • Marine Park Buffer Zone 9
  • Community Protected Area 12
  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 8
  • Protected 1
  • Voluntary Nature Reserve 1
  • Marine Protected Area (MPA) 3
  • Natural resource management area 4
  • Wetland Park 1
  • Satellite Reserve 1
  • Recreational Park 3
  • Fishing Reserve 1
  • Turtle Reserve 2
  • Collaborative Fishery Management Area 1
  • Sacred Forest 3
  • Habitat and species management reserve 1

Regional designations

6
  • Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (Barcelona Convention) 6

International designations

553
  • UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 87
  • World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) 57
  • Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 409

Africa Protected Areas

View all

91 Ammunisie Depo Private Nature Reserve

Aan de Klipheuvel Nature Reserve

Aandgloor Private Nature Reserve

citation

UNEP-WCMC (2020). Protected Area Profile for Africa from the World Database of Protected Areas, October 2020. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net