List of largest protected areas

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is compiled and managed by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, an executive agency of the United Nations Environment Programme.

[1] It uses the IUCN and CBD definitions of protected areas to determine whether a site should be included in the WDPA.

[2] The extent to which each area and the resources within are protected can vary significantly.

[3] All are marine protected areas except for Northeast Greenland National Park – which is mostly terrestrial but also has a marine component – and three entirely terrestrial biosphere reserves in Brazil.

Protected areas with multiple coterminous or overlapping designations (e.g. Northeast Greenland National Park and the corresponding Biosphere Reserve) are listed only once.