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Download and process WDPA Protected Area layers

Source: R/protection.R
protection.Rd

This function downloads, processes, and extracts variables from the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA). Each variable corresponds to a global raster representing different IUCN Management Categories of protected areas.

Usage

protection(x, vars, ...)

Arguments

x

The output from `par_set()` defining the area or locations for extraction, the reference system, and the buffer. Leave this empty and use `par_set()` to define parameters for download.

vars

Character vector of one or more variables to download and process.

...

Additional arguments (currently unused).

Value

If `par_set()` contained a raster/polygon/points with buffer: a `SpatRaster` stack of processed variables. If `par_set()` contained spatial points or data.frame of points without buffer: a `data.frame` of x, y, and extracted values.

Details

Available variables (working synonyms in parentheses):

IUCN Management Categories

  • "WDPA_IA" ("strict nature reserve", "strict reserve", "1a", "ia", "Ia")

  • "WDPA_IB" ("wilderness area", "wilderness", "1b", "ib", "Ib")

  • "WDPA_II" ("national park", "park", "2", "ii", "II")

  • "WDPA_III" ("natural monument", "monument", "3", "iii", "III")

  • "WDPA_IV" ("habitat species management", "habitat management", "4", "iv", "IV")

  • "WDPA_V" ("protected landscape", "protected seascape", "landscape", "5", "v", "V")

  • "WDPA_VI" ("sustainable use", "natural resources", "6", "vi", "VI")

  • "WDPA_ALL" ("all", "combined", "full", "total", "all protected areas")

Citation:
Protected Planet (2025). "World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA)." [UNEP-WCMC]. https://www.protectedplanet.net/en

Note: Users should ensure they comply with the terms of use of the WDPA when using these data for commercial or research purposes.

Examples

# \donttest{
# Example 1: Download National Parks and All Protected Areas for Italy
processed <- par_set(country= "Italy", crs=3035) %>% 
protection(vars=c("national park", "WDPA_ALL"))
  # }