The Marine Protection Atlas (MPAtlas) is compilation of MPA assessments contributed by the scientific community to track effective MPA progress towards global targets. MPAtlas builds upon the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) by enhancing self-reported data with standardized, science-based assessments that categorize marine protected areas (MPAs) based on the impact of direct human activity and the likelihood of delivering the promised conservation benefits. We have been working with colleagues to assess MPAs against the peer-reviewed framework and build a database of assessment results. The database is continually growing, and our team publishes new MPA assessment data as it becomes available. We depend on contributions from MPA experts and practitioners to help us grow the MPAtlas database. If your MPA is missing, we welcome contributions!
Note: The dataset does not contain boundaries for all global MPAs, only those assessed. If you are in need of the entire global MPA data with boundaries, you can still download them from the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) website.
The MPAtlas website has summary statistics built in for download directly from the website. You can download the global statistics, national statistics and the largest 100 MPAs by area all straight from our website without downloading the full dataset. The global MPA Guide assessment statistics are downloadable directly from the home page in the section about "MPA Guide Protection."
A table of the largest 100 MPAs assessed by The MPA Guide can be viewed, sorted and downloaded as well as country level progress of assessed marine area that can be aggregated by sovereign, sorted and downloaded. You can also select a specific country, territory or sovereign and download their assessments directly from their landing page.
**Please remember that this dataset is only assessed MPAs and there may be unassessed MPAs that are missing, especially for countries that show up as 0% protected. They may be unassessed and have protection we haven't published yet.**
Complete this form to request a link to the current version of the MPAtlas database. There is also an API available upon request to info@mpatlas.org.
Downloads of all published data are available as either a geodatabase (.gdb) or spreadsheet (.csv). The geodatabase includes a .csv file, so you don't need both -- after submitting this form you'll be able to download whichever you'd like.
By requesting to download the MPAtlas database, you acknowledge that you have reviewed and agreed to the Data Use and Terms. Our data is intended for non-commercial use. We may share it for limited and specific commercial purposes upon request. Please email us at info@mpatlas.org for commercial requests.
Our data is intended for non-commercial use. We may share it for limited and specific commercial purposes upon request. Please email us at info@mpatlas.org for commercial requests.
Is your MPA missing? If you have any questions, please email us at info@mpatlas.org. We'd love to hear from scientists interested in helping us assess areas or MPAs that are missing from the current dataset. We welcome collaboration on projects that include applying The MPA Guide framework to your MPA site or network.
