Tag:boundary=protected_area

boundary = protected_area
Description
Used to mark boundaries of protected areas including national parks, wilderness, marine protection areas, heritage sites and other, similar areas.
Group: boundaries
Used on these elements
Requires
protect_class=* protection_title=*
Useful combination
name=* official_name=* Relation:boundary
See also
boundary=national_park boundary=aboriginal_lands leisure=nature_reserve
Status: de facto
boundary=protected_area $1% $1% $1% $1% More details at taginfo
Tools for this tag
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boundary=protected_area is used to mark boundaries of protected areas including national parks, wilderness, marine protection areas, heritage sites and other, similar areas.

See: Protected area

boundary=protected_area
+ protect_class=1a to 99
+ protection_title=...

How to Map

• Protected areas can be mapped as a way, or as a relation with type=boundary.
• Add the tags boundary=protected_area + protect_class=1 to 99 + protection_title=...
  • See the chart below to pick the correct protect_class=*
  • Add the title or type of protection (such as "National Park" or "Wildlife Reserve") in protection_title=...
• Add the most commonly-used local name for the area in the name=* tag
  • If there is a longer official name this may be tagged with official_name=*

Consider this proposal of protection_class=* with named values instead of numerical values in protect_class=1 to 99.

Protected Area Classification with protect_class=*

The nature of the protected area is identified using protect_class=1a, 1b, 1 to 99 which are divided into four categories:

• Conservation Land, derived from international definitions (1a, 1b, 1-6)
• Other types of nature conservation (7, 97-99),
• Resources conservation for important single resources(11-19) and
• Social conservation for community and architecture (21-29).
  

Note that values 1 and 7-99 are not based on outside definitions and were invented for OSM.

The tables "Protect classes for various countries" below, provide guidance on the use of protect_class in specific countries.

Note that several of the values were proposed but have been very rarely used (for example, 11, 15, 16, and 26).

In some cases other tags are more common: boundary=national_park instead of 2, and boundary=aboriginal_lands instead of 24.

Nature Protected Area

Protected nature and landscape in ecosystem context, including promoted culture habits. Switch to the table of countries >>

Main Protected Area Categories

Class	Description	Examples	Rendering in osm-carto	Usage
protect_class=1a or protect_class=1	Strict Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia): "...strictly set aside to protect biodiversity and also possibly geological/geomorphological features, where human visitation, use and impacts are strictly controlled and limited to ensure protection of the conservation values. Such protected areas can serve as indispensable reference areas for scientific research and monitoring."	Boatswain Bird Island, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Horoirangi Marine Reserve, New Zealand Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve, Ghana Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve, Costa Rica Reserva natural Rincón de Santa María, Argentina Sinivuori Strict Nature Reserve, Finland Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand		protect_class=1a protect_class=1
protect_class=1b or protect_class=1	Wilderness Area (IUCN Category Ib): "...usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas, retaining their natural character and influence, without permanent or significant human habitation, which are protected and managed so as to preserve their natural condition."	Kaldoaivi Wilderness Area, Finland Sandia Mountain Wilderness, United States Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, Canada Yellabinna Wilderness Protection Area, Australia		protect_class=1b protect_class=1
protect_class=2	National Park (IUCN Category II): "Large natural or near natural areas set aside to protect large-scale ecological processes, species and ecosystems... which also provide a foundation for environmentally and culturally compatible spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities." More commonly tagged boundary=national_park	Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia Serengeti National Park, Tanzania Torres del Paine National Park, Chile Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, Australia Yosemite National Park, USA Zhangye National Geopark, China		protect_class=2
protect_class=3	Natural Monument or Feature (IUCN Category III): "...protect a specific natural monument, which can be a landform, sea mount, submarine cavern, geological feature such as a cave or even a living feature such as an ancient grove. They are generally quite small protected areas and often have high visitor value." Cultural and archaeological important	Balda Canyon Natural Monument, Georgia Delaware Canal State Park, United States El mono Hernández Cork Forest Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, Colombia Jeti-Ögüz Rocks, Kyrgyzstan Hostivické Ponds, Czech Republic Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park, Australia		protect_class=3
protect_class=4	Habitat/Species Management Area (IUCN Category IV): "...aim to protect particular species or habitats and management reflects this priority. Many category IV protected areas will need regular, active interventions to address the requirements of particular species or to maintain habitats, but this is not a requirement..."	Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, Australia Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, United States Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, India Khao Khiao–Khao Chomphu Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand		protect_class=4
protect_class=5	Protected Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V): "...area where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with significant ecological, biological, cultural and scenic value: and where safeguarding the integrity of this interaction is vital to protecting and sustaining the area and its associated nature conservation and other values."	Cañón del Río Lobos Natural Park, Spain Corroboree Rock Conservation Reserve, Australia Dartmoor, United Kingdom Granite-steppe lands of Buh, Ukraine		protect_class=5
protect_class=6	Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources (IUCN Category VI): "...conserve ecosystems and habitats, together with associated cultural values and traditional natural resource management systems. They are generally large, with most of the area in a natural condition, where a proportion is under sustainable natural resource management and where low-level non-industrial use of natural resources compatible with nature conservation is seen as one of the main aims of the area." For small areas and single-value-protection see also resources-protected-area: protect_class=11 to 19.	Auatí-Paraná Extractive Reserve, Brazil Bascombe Well Conservation Park, Australia Delaware State Forest, United States Shilanda-Nagdemra Dolphin Sanctuary, Bangladesh Xe Pian National Protected Area, Laos		protect_class=6

Other Nature Protected Area Categories

Class	Description*	Examples	Rendering in osm-carto	Usage
protect_class=7	nature-feature area: similar to 4. but without IUCN-level. Consider using plain-English tagging alternatives instead of this value: For geological sites, see geological=palaeontological_site For nature reserves, see leisure=nature_reserve	Some habitats are protected by local- or district-law: areas to protect one specie, special cover of vegetation, geological site, ...	(not rendered)
protect_class=97	A protected area protected by international continental agreements. They often cover sites already protected by national law. Used for the following conventions and treaties: Natura 2000(bg cs de es fr it nl), ref:natura2000=*: Birds Directive (Council Directive 2009/147/EC) Emerald network Habitats Directive Site of Community Importance Special Area of Conservation Special Protection Area European Green Belt(de pt) Alpine Convention(de es fr it nl) Consider using plain-English tagging alternatives instead of this value: For ASEAN Heritage Parks, see: International Heritage Registration Organisation		(not rendered)
protect_class=98	A protected area protected by intercontinental treaties or conventions. They often cover sites already protected by national law. Does not include a cross-border national park (which would be tagged protect_class=2). Used for the following conventions and treaties: Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) The Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat – ramsar=yes World Network of Biosphere Reserves UNESCO Global Geoparks Consider using plain-English tagging alternatives instead of this value: For UNESCO World Heritage Convention, see: International Heritage Registration Organisation		(not rendered)
protect_class=99	other continental or international, not yet classified.		(not rendered)	protect_class=99

Resources-protected-area

Protected areas with a focus on single natural resources, including human living space itself, because of an important natural material or characteristic. Mostly appointed on community level. Switch to the table of countries.

Class	Description	Rendering in osm-carto	Usage
protect_class=12	water: water protection area, fresh water, drinking water, springs, ... Consider using plain-English tagging alternatives instead of this value: For springs, see natural=spring For reservoirs, see water=reservoir For drinking water, see drinking_water=* For drinking water storage tanks, see man_made=storage_tank + content=water For rainwater management, see basin=* For reservoir watershed protection areas, see landuse=reservoir_watershed For water protection areas, see boundary=water_protection_area
protect_class=14	species: no fishing, protected for fishery, protected for hunting, plants, ... Consider using plain-English tagging alternatives instead of this value: For no fishing areas, see fishing=no For fishing access, see leisure=fishing For fish hatcheries, see landuse=fishfarm or landuse=aquaculture For plant nurseries, see landuse=plant_nursery For managed forests, see landuse=forest and Forest	(not rendered)
protect_class=15	location condition: floodwater retention area, protection forest, grazing land, ... Consider using plain-English tagging alternatives instead of this value: For livestock grazing, see landuse=meadow, landuse=farmland, landuse=animal_keeping, and animal_keeping=* For managed forests see landuse=forest and Forest. For flood-prone areas see flood_prone=* For floodwater management infrastructure, see waterway=ditch, waterway=drain, waterway=ditch and tunnel=culvert.	(not rendered)
protect_class=19	other national, This tag was used by an import in Poland for "Użytek ekologiczny" areas Instead of this value, consider using protect_class=6 for areas protected for "sustainable use of natural resources"	(not rendered)

Social-protected-area

Important social interests. Visualize sociopolitical assets. Switch to the table of countries.

Class	Description	Rendering in osm-carto	Usage
protect_class=21	Community life: religious, sacred areas, gathering places, recreation (this sense of "recreation" has given rise to value 21 being assigned to state parks in New York, USA) Consider using plain-English tagging alternatives instead of this value. For religious areas, see landuse=religious, landuse=cemetery, amenity=place_of_worship, or amenity=grave_yard. For gathering places, see Square, place=square, landuse=village_green, leisure=park, or highway=pedestrian+area=yes. For recreational areas, see landuse=recreation_ground and/or leisure=park.	(not rendered)	For example Jones Beach State Park
protect_class=22	Cultural assets (cultural assets and - efforts, districts historical heritage, monument conservation): protection of sites with special architecture or historic interest, designed and created intentionally by people: urban layout, buildings, landscape, gardens, art-goods, ... More commonly tagged with: historic=* and/or heritage=*	(not rendered)
protect_class=24	Political protection: Consider using plain-English tagging alternatives instead of this value. For reservation / indigenous area / aboriginal: self-governing communities with land + indigenous, see boundary=aboriginal_lands. For boundaries of states and administrative subdivisions, see boundary=administrative. For political/electoral districts, see boundary=political.	(not rendered)
protect_class=27	Currently used only for Norwegian "Friluftsområde", a category of outdoor space accessible made publicly accessible by Norwegian law.	(not rendered)

Discouraged, legacy, and unused values of protect_class=*

Legacy values of protect_class=*

Class	Description*	Rendering in osm-carto	Usage
protect_class=11	soil: crop yield, erosion protection, ... [This tag was proposed but never used]	(not rendered)
protect_class=13	climate and -air: gasper supply/cold air, ... [This tag was proposed but never used. See boundary=low_emission_zone (LEZ).]	(not rendered)
protect_class=16	longtime hazard area: contamination, earth-moving area, "problem sites" ... Formally deprecated by hazard=*.	(not rendered)
23	Protection in favor of economics: special economic zones. Formally deprecated by boundary=special_economic_zone.	(not rendered)
25	Military areas: military refuges, test area, ... See military=*, landuse=military and Map_Features#Military instead. Formally deprecated by landuse=military and military=*.	(not rendered)
26	Historic: "for colonial-era entities and protectorates". More commonly tagged with: historic=* and/or heritage=*.	(not rendered)
29	other social, not yet classified for ID 21 to 28. [This tag was proposed but has never been used]	(not rendered)

Additional keys

For background-information of the objects.

Key	Value	Description	Usage
protection_title=*	wildlife sanctuary, Zapovidnyk, National Park, Special Protected Area, World Heritage Convention, Aesthetic Forest, Heritage River, Indian Reserve, ...	Title or type of protection, not the proper name. The national designation, the formal title or type of protection (see level-table). Important! Strongly recommended
name=*	proper name	the common name of the area
ref=*	<reference number>	Use the ref=* to hold an external ID number for the area
opening_hours=*	Dec 20-Jan 06 00:00-24:00 or "sunrise to sunset", etc.	The dates or times when the protected area is open to the public
website=*	http://www.nameoftheasite.com	appropriate website for further information about the protected area
operator=*		The institution or individual which operates the protected area
governance_type=*	government_managed / government / private / social_group	The governance describes the decision-making structure of a site. Also see operator=*, site_ownership=*
site_ownership=*	public, international, national, federal, province, state, regional, county, municipal, community, private
related_law=*	Law 4/1994, BNatSchG: § 23, ...	The title of the edict or legal text which establishes or regulates the area.
start_date=*	yyyy-mm-dd	The date the protected area was created. Also see end_date=*.
protection_object=*	aborigine, art, cave, heritage, habitat, nature, recreation, soil, water, etc ...	The subject or object of the protected area, that is, the feature that is protected.
period=*	1200-1500 or Late Middle Ages	to give the time when a historic area was being used. Use the name of the period or a range of years.
ethnic_group=*	the name of the ethnic (indigenous, aboriginal) group	Used in connection with political protection, protect_class=24 in Colombia. Or combined with boundary=aboriginal_lands.

Background

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) designed categories of nature conservation management, which communicate "intensities of engagement". On a technical view, the fact of protection doesn't fit with the surface or the objects of an area, it just looks for some structures for bordering (e.g. on initial areas, inhabitants may go on with their usual activities for a longer period of transition). 'Protection is no landuse', it is a political agreement. So, the already existing key "boundary" is a suitable key. As associated value, "protected_area" was newly established, because it is clear and emphasizes "the precaution" and "the limitation". Limitations don't emerge only by nature conservation. Further reasons are socio-political and include economic requests, for taking care of resources. Areas also might receive awards, which require a consideration. Those matters are also taken up here.

In order to allow the use of a familiar country-specific ordering system for easy handling (mapping and rendering) the multiplicity of "nomenclatures" was assigned to a few numbers of IDs ("protect_class"). Similarly managed or intended protected areas should use the same value. IDs are short and more friendly; it is easier to conflate an abstract code with "my" local name, than a foreign name ("Природна ..." = 3). The protectedplanet website by the IUCN allows us to determine many types of national nature-conservation areas.

So, the first 'class 1-9' mostly align with these IUCN-categories and cover the section nature-conservation (and that in a holistic view, inclusive culture aspects like special kinds of farming). But for the sake of independence, don't think of the classes as "coupled" with the IUCN categories. The '10s-block' signifies areas to conserve resources ("economic view") - the basic ones are soil and minerals, water, air, species and for some locations, certain features or facilities. The '20s-block' signifies socio-political interests. Finally the '90s-block' signifies awards and supra-regional, and global categories.

Protect_class 1 to 6 are from IUCN Protected Areas Categories System (2009). To associate the correct class, see the IUCN-database at protectedplanet.net, section "IUCN Category". The intention is for protect_class=* 1 to 6 fit with the IUCN-level I to VI, class 19 to IUCN -999. whereas protect_class 7 more correctly associates to additional sites which otherwise would go untagged.

See also

• leisure=nature_reserve - Like a national park, a nature reserve is about protecting wildlife while simultaneously providing for human recreation (limited, low-impact activities like hiking or wildlife observation). The distinction is not always clear, some suggestions are: nature reserves are smaller areas than national parks, national parks are administrativly-defined boundaries around larger areas (and may in fact include towns or even cities) whereas nature reserves are more evident on-the-ground (more "natural," few human encroachments).
• boundary=aboriginal_lands, which may be in the process of deprecating boundary=protected_area + protect_class=24. There is some discussion at Talk:Proposed_features/Tag:boundary=aboriginal_lands. (The tag is Approved, it is no longer a Proposed feature).
• boundary=national_park - more common tag for national parks
• boundary=forest: if a whole delimited forest is also a protected area, according to the "One feature, one OSM element", the approved tagging is boundary=forest + protect_class=*.
• boundary=water_protection_area - A water protection area to protect surface water and groundwater from contamination.
• Proposed_features/Park_boundary - A proposal to define the meaning of a boundary=protected_area tag without a companion protect_class=* tag, as a boundary of an unspecified protected area, known in many English dialects as "parks". This proposal leaves existing "park" tagging essentially unchanged.
• Proposal:_Named_protection_class_for_protected_areas - Proposed replacing protect_class=* with a new tag protection_class=* using common English terms for the values instead of numbers
• Proposed_features/Key:protected_area - Proposes some modifications
• Proposed_features/conservation another sub-category of the tag proposed on this page ?
• Proposed_features heritage for protect_class 22
• ... discussion about terms (International consistency)

Weblinks

• IUCN Protected Areas Categories System
• Wetlands of International Importance ("Ramsar")
• UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve
• UNESCO-liste of MAB-sites
• World Heritage Convention.
• ASEAN Heritage > Biodiversity Information ...
• Barcelona Convention Mediterranean Action Plan
• GIS Viewer Natura 2000 european Natura 2000-network areas
• Water Conservation Districts
• Planning Notes for Soil Protection

There are governments, keeping a habitat system:

• Interpretation Manual of European Union Habitats priority habitat types of the "Annex I".
• Lower saxonys key (DE), for area-wide and selective mapping.
• Prior protected habitats, a mapping-example (pdf, 2 MB)
• Cultural landscape element infos by a planning bureau.

Wikipedia

• w:en:soil conservation