Protected Areas Features
Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Inventory
MPAs area defined areas where natural and/or cultural resources area given greater protection than the surrounding waters. In the U.S., MPAs span a range of habitats including the open ocean, coastal areas, inter-tidal zones, estuaries, and the Great Lakes. They also vary widely in purpose, legal authorities, agencies, management approaches, level of protection, and restrictions on human uses. Read more.
PAD-US 1.1 (CBI Edition)
Protected areas are cornerstones of national and international conservation strategies. By way of these designations, lands and waters are set-aside in-perpetuity to preserve functioning natural ecosystems, act as refuges for species, and maintain ecological processes. PAD-US 1.1 (CBI Edition) attempts to include all available spatial data on these places. It is our goal to publish the most comprehensive geospatial data set of U.S. protected areas to date. Read More.
National Conservation Easement Database
The National Conservation Easement Database (NCED) will be the first national database of conservation easement information, compiling records from land trusts and public agencies throughout the United States. This public-private partnership brings together national conservation groups, local and regional land trusts, and state and federal agencies around a common objective. The purpose is to create a single, up-to-date, sustainable nationwide system for managing and accessing data about conservation easements. Read More.
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
Since 1994, Canada, Mexico and the United States have collaborated in protecting North America's environment through the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The international organization called the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) was established through these agreements to address regional environmental concerns, prevent potential trade and environmental conflicts, and promote the effective enforcement of environmental law. Read More.
PAD for Aviators
Avoidance of airspace over various sensitive areas (including many designated protected areas) is mandated by public law, including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and Department of Defense (DoD) Service Branch regulations. The purpose of the Protected Areas Database Aviation (or PAD Aviation) is to provide military and civil aviators with current, geo-referenced data that identifies areas sensitive or potentially sensitive to aircraft over-flight using a national standard. Read More.
Protected Areas of Canada
Global Forest Watch Canada (GFWC) has created two national protected areas datasets – one of permanent protected lands and one of lands with interim protections. The interim file contains those areas that are legally protected, but only for a limited time period – usually until land use planning issues, especially with Canada's Aboriginal peoples, are finalized. This is the first Canada-wide, up-to-date protected areas geospatial dataset that is publically available containing interim protected areas. Read More.
