United States/Public lands/PAD-US/Alabama

This table is generated by the OPUSInspect script, by ZeLonewolf on Nov 28, 2020. (This script output is a work in progress and cannot be relied on for mapping).

Note that:

Areas listed as "Not Reported" meet the definition of IUCN protection, but have not yet been assigned a category, and categorization is not appropriate.
Areas should not be tagged with protect_class=* if their IUCN category cannot be determined. Instead, these areas should simply be tagged with leisure=nature_reserve, which will render in OSM Carto.

IUCN Categorized Protected Areas in Alabama
name	Ownership Type^[1]	Access^[2]	IUCN Category^[3]	OSM Objects with this Name
Adams Scenic Overlook	State	Unknown	V
Alabama Land Trust	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Alabama State Port Authority Exchange Tract	State	Unknown	V
Autauga County Community Hunting Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Bankhead/Warrior Mountains Conservation Area	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Barbour Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Barton'S Beach Preserve	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Bayfront Park	Local Government	Open Access	III
Bayou Sara Tract	State	Restricted Access	V
Bee Branch Research Natural Area	Designation	Restricted Access	Ia
Bell Mountain	Private	Unknown	V
Betty And Crawford Rainwater Perdido River Nature	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Bib County Glades Preserve (Individual Tracts)	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Bibb County Ketona Dolomite Glades	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Blevins Gap Preserve	Private	Unknown	V
Blowing Springs Cave Tract	State	Open Access	V
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge	Federal	Restricted Access	IV	7152437 7152437 (`protect_class=4`)
Cahaba River Basin Megasite Fee	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge	Federal	Restricted Access	IV	288964473 288964473 (`protect_class=4`)
Cane Creek Canyon Easement	Private	Closed	V
Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database reports that there is no protected area with this name in Alabama that has an assigned IUCN category. This may be the result of naming variations and/or spelling differences.			724087937 724087937 (`protect_class=5`)
Chandler Mountain Macrosite	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Cheaha Wilderness	Designation	Restricted Access	Ib	9536353 9536353 (`protect_class=1b`)
Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database reports that there is no protected area with this name in Alabama that has an assigned IUCN category. This may be the result of naming variations and/or spelling differences.			160039889 160039889 (`protect_class=4`)
Coon Creek Nature Preserve	State	Open Access	V
Coosa Wildlife Management Area	State	Open Access	V
Cove Creek	Private	Unknown	V
Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary	Non-Governmental Organization	Open Access	V
David K. Nelson (Demopolis) Wildlife Management Area	Federal	Restricted Access	V
Deerfoot Mitigation Bank	Private	Restricted Access	V
Dennis Cove Preserve	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Desmond	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Desoto State Park	State	Open Access	III
Dothan Trail Park	State	Open Access	V
Dry Creek Preserve	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Dugger Mountain Wilderness	Designation	Restricted Access	Ib	7378884 7378884 (`protect_class=1b`)
Dunnavant Valley Greenway	Local Government	Open Access	V
Ebenezer Swamp Ecological Preserve	State	Unknown	V
Emergency Watershed Protection Program - Floodplain Easement (EWPP FPE) Jackson, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Esslinger Hollow	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database reports that there is no protected area with this name in Alabama that has an assigned IUCN category. This may be the result of naming variations and/or spelling differences.			319969722 319969722 (`protect_class=4`)
Farm Service Agency Interest Of Al	Unknown	Closed	V
Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge	Federal	Restricted Access	IV	445238054 445238054 (`protect_class=4`)
Fish River Park	Local Government	Open Access	III
Frank W. and Rob M. Boykin Wildlife Management Area	Private	Restricted Access	V
Fred T. Stimpson Community Hunting Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Gaston Parcel	State	Restricted Access	V
Geneva State Forest Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Georgia-Alabama Land Trust Easement #100	Private	Restricted Access	V
Georgia-Alabama Land Trust Easement #12	Private	Restricted Access	V
Georgia-Alabama Land Trust Easement #18	Private	Restricted Access	V
Georgia-Alabama Land Trust Easement #254	Private	Restricted Access	V
Georgia-Alabama Land Trust Easement #36	Private	Restricted Access	V
Georgia-Alabama Land Trust Easement #40	Private	Restricted Access	V
Georgia-Alabama Land Trust Easement #66	Private	Restricted Access	V
Goat Tree Reserve	Non-Governmental Organization	Open Access	V
Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary	Local Government	Open Access	III
Gopher Tortoise Conservation Area	State	Closed	V
Gorgas Swamp	Private	Open Access	V
Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge	Federal	Restricted Access	IV
Grand Bay SLD East	State	Unknown	V
Grand Bay SLD West	State	Unknown	V
Grand Bay Savanna Community Hunting Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Grand Bay Savanna Fee	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) Cherokee, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) DeKalb, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) Marengo, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) Montgomery, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) Sumter, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) Talladega, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Green Mountain	Private	Unknown	V
Gulf Islands National Seashore	Federal	Open Access	V
Hollins Wildlife Management Area	Private	Restricted Access	V
Inverness Nature Park and Trails	Local Government	Open Access	III
Isle Aux Herbes	State	Unknown	V
J.D.	Local Government	Open Access	III
Jacob Farm Addition Tract	State	Restricted Access	V
James D. Martin - Skyline Wildlife Management Area	State	Open Access	V
Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge	Federal	Restricted Access	IV	117595833 117595833 (`protect_class=4`)
Lanark	Non-Governmental Organization	Restricted Access	V
Lauderdale Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Lillian Swamp Complex	State	Open Access	V
Lillian Swamp Wetlands	State	Open Access	V
Little River Canyon	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Little River Canyon East Rim	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Little River Canyon Megasite	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Little River Canyon National Preserve	Federal	Open Access	V	7185093 7185093 (`protect_class=6`)
Little River Canyon National Preserve Ma Equi-Site	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Little River Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve	State	Open Access	V
Lowndes Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Mallard-Fox Creek Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Mathis Mountain	Private	Unknown	V
Mobile-Tensaw Delta Wildlife Management Area	Federal	Restricted Access	V
Monte Sano Mountain Preserve	Private	Unknown	V
Monte Sano Nature Preserve	Non-Governmental Organization	Open Access	V
Monte Sano Preserve	Local Government	Open Access	V
Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge	Federal	Restricted Access	IV	122073220 122073220 (`protect_class=6`)
Mud Creek Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Natchez Trace Parkway	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database reports that there is no protected area with this name in Alabama that has an assigned IUCN category. This may be the result of naming variations and/or spelling differences.			10807775 10807775 (`protect_class=5`)
Noccalula Falls Park	Local Government	Open Access	III
Norman H. Foster, Sr. Tract	State	Unknown	V
Perdido River Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Pike County Pocosin Complex	State	Open Access	V
Portersville Bay Wetlands Tract	State	Open Access	V
Prairie Grove Glades	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Pratt'S Ferry Preserve	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Pritchett Tract	State	Open Access	V
Rabbit Island Preserve	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Raccoon Creek Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Red Hills Complex	State	Open Access	V
Riverton Community Hunting Area	State	Open Access	V
Roy B. Whitaker Preserve	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve	Non-Governmental Organization	Open Access	V
Russell Cave National Monument	Federal	Open Access	III	11085746 11085746 (`protect_class=3`)
Sam R. Murphy Wildlife Management Area	Private	Restricted Access	V
Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge	Federal	Restricted Access	IV	445235257 445235257 (`protect_class=4`)
Scotch Wildlife Management Area	Private	Restricted Access	V
Shackleford Landing	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Shoal Creek National Forest	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database reports that there is no protected area with this name in Alabama that has an assigned IUCN category. This may be the result of naming variations and/or spelling differences.			117350491 117350491 (`protect_class=6`) 117350506 117350506 (`protect_class=6`) 117350521 117350521 (`protect_class=6`) plus 2 more
Shoal Creek Nature Preserve Tract	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database reports that there is no protected area with this name in Alabama that has an assigned IUCN category. This may be the result of naming variations and/or spelling differences.			114355311 114355311 (`protect_class=5`)
Shoal Creek Preserve Tract	State	Open Access	V
Sipsey Fork West Fork, Alabama Wild and Scenic River	Designation	Open Access	V
Sipsey River Complex	State	Open Access	V
Sipsey Wilderness	Designation	Restricted Access	Ib	117423837 117423837 (`protect_class=1b`)
Southern Cumberlands - Al	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Southern Cumberlands Lca	Private	Closed	V
Splinter Hill Bog	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Splinter Hill Bog Complex	State	Open Access	V
Splinter Hill Bog Fee	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Splinter Hill Bog Preserve	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Steiner Property	Private	Open Access	V
Talladega National Forest	Non-Governmental Organization	Closed	V
Talladega National Forest (Oakmulgee Division)	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database reports that there is no protected area with this name in Alabama that has an assigned IUCN category. This may be the result of naming variations and/or spelling differences.			7277415 7277415 (`protect_class=6`)
Talladega National Forest (Shoal Creek District)	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database reports that there is no protected area with this name in Alabama that has an assigned IUCN category. This may be the result of naming variations and/or spelling differences.			3500870 3500870 (`protect_class=6`)
Talladega National Forest (Talladega Division)	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database reports that there is no protected area with this name in Alabama that has an assigned IUCN category. This may be the result of naming variations and/or spelling differences.			7271895 7271895 (`protect_class=6`)
The Bayou Canot Tract	State	Restricted Access	V
The Heron Bay Wetlands Tract	State	Open Access	V
The Mobile-Tensaw Delta Tract	State	Restricted Access	V
The Salco And Middle River Tracts	State	Restricted Access	V
Trough Springs	Private	Unknown	V
Tupelo Gum Swamp	Private	Open Access	V
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve	State	Open Access	V
Tuskegee National Forest	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database reports that there is no protected area with this name in Alabama that has an assigned IUCN category. This may be the result of naming variations and/or spelling differences.			3500802 3500802 (`protect_class=6`)
Upper Delta Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
W. L. Holland Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V
Wade Mountain Preserve	Local Government	Open Access	V
Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge	Federal	Restricted Access	IV
Weatherly Mountain	Local Government	Open Access	V
Weeks Bay Harris And Worcester Tracts	State	Closed	V
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve	State	Open Access	V
Wehle Nature Preserve	State	Restricted Access	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Baldwin, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Barbour, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Bullock, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Cherokee, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Chilton, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Colbert, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Crenshaw, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Dale, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Dallas, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Franklin, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Geneva, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Hale, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Jackson, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Lamar, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Lawrence, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Limestone, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Lowndes, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Macon, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Madison, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Marengo, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Marshall, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Mobile, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Montgomery, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Morgan, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Pike, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Russell, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Tallapoosa, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Wilcox, Alabama	Private	Closed	V
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge	Unknown	Restricted Access	IV	2451075 2451075 (`protect_class=4`)
Wildlife Game Sanctuary	State	Restricted Access	V
William R. Ireland, Sr. - Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area	Private	Restricted Access	V
Wolf Creek Community Hunting Area	Private	Restricted Access	V
Yates Lake West Wildlife Management Area	State	Restricted Access	V

↑ The general land owner description (e.g. 'Federal', 'Territorial', 'American Indian Lands', 'State', 'Regional Agency Special District', 'Local Government', 'Non-Governmental Organization', 'Private', 'Joint') standardized for the U.S. See PAD-US Data Manual for the “Agency Name to Agency Type Crosswalk” or geodatabase look up table for full domain descriptions. 'Regional Agency Special Districts' include limited purpose governmental units that exist separately from local governments such as county or municipal. 'Designation' is applied to designations overlapping fee lands as ownership is not applicable. Use the 'Manager Type' field for the best general depiction of Federal lands as several ownership related data gaps (i.e. 'Owner Type' = 'Unknown') occur in the Federal theme
↑
Level of 'Public Access' permitted, described as:
- Open requires no special requirements for public access to the property (may include regular hours of availability);
- Restricted requires a special permit from the owner for access, a registration permit on public land (e.g. self-permitting Wild and Scenic River, backcountry Wilderness registration) or has highly variable times when open to use (e.g. Wildlife Area with seasonal closures to protect winter range or breeding habitat);
- Closed occurs where no public access is allowed (e.g. land bank property, special ecological study areas, military bases, many easements, etc.);
- Unknown is assigned where information is not currently available.
↑
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) management categories assigned to protected areas for inclusion in the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Center (UNEP-WCMC) World Database for Protected Areas (WDPA) and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) North American Terrestrial Protected Areas Database. IUCN defines a protected area as, "A clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values" (includes GAP Status Code 1 and 2 only). Categorization follows as:
- IUCN Category Ia - Strict Nature Reserves are strictly protected areas set aside to protect biodiversity and possibly geological or geomorphological features, where human visitation, use and impacts are strictly controlled and limited to ensure preservation of the conservation values. Such protected areas can serve as indispensable reference areas for scientific research and monitoring;
- IUCN Category Ib - Wilderness Areas protected areas are usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas, retaining their natural character and influence, without permanent or significant human habitation, which are protected and managed to preserve their natural condition;
- IUCN Category II - National Park protected areas are large natural or near natural areas set aside to protect large-scale ecological processes, along with the complement of species and ecosystems characteristic of the area, which also provide a foundation for environmentally and culturally compatible spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities;
- IUCN Category III - Natural Monument or Feature protected areas are set aside to protect a specific natural monument, which can be a landform, seamount, submarine caverns, geological features such as caves, or even a living feature such as an ancient grove. They are generally quite small protected areas and often have high visitor value;
- IUCN Category IV - Habitat and (or) species management protected areas 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 of this category;
- IUCN Category V Protected landscape and (or) seascape protected areas occur where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with significant ecological, biological, cultural, and scenic value;
- IUCN Category VI - Protected area with sustainable use (community based, non-industrial) of natural resources are generally large, with much of the area in a more-or-less natural condition and whereas a proportion is under sustainable natural resource management and where such exploitation is seen as one of the main aims of the area.
- Other Conservation Areas are not recognized by IUCN at this time; however, they will be evaluated to determine if they meet the definition of Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) for inclusion in the WDPA following recently released guidance. These areas (GAP Status Code 3 areas only) are attributed in the 'IUCN Category' Domain along with 'Unassigned' areas (GAP Status Code 4).
- In addition, a few areas are included as 'Not Reported', these areas meet the definition of IUCN protection (i.e. GAP Status Code 1 or 2) but 'IUCN Category' has not yet been assigned and categorical assignment is not appropriate. See the PAD-US Data Manual for a summary of methods.

[1] The general land owner description (e.g. 'Federal', 'Territorial', 'American Indian Lands', 'State', 'Regional Agency Special District', 'Local Government', 'Non-Governmental Organization', 'Private', 'Joint') standardized for the U.S. See PAD-US Data Manual for the “Agency Name to Agency Type Crosswalk” or geodatabase look up table for full domain descriptions. 'Regional Agency Special Districts' include limited purpose governmental units that exist separately from local governments such as county or municipal. 'Designation' is applied to designations overlapping fee lands as ownership is not applicable. Use the 'Manager Type' field for the best general depiction of Federal lands as several ownership related data gaps (i.e. 'Owner Type' = 'Unknown') occur in the Federal theme

[2] Level of 'Public Access' permitted, described as:
Open requires no special requirements for public access to the property (may include regular hours of availability);

Restricted requires a special permit from the owner for access, a registration permit on public land (e.g. self-permitting Wild and Scenic River, backcountry Wilderness registration) or has highly variable times when open to use (e.g. Wildlife Area with seasonal closures to protect winter range or breeding habitat);

Closed occurs where no public access is allowed (e.g. land bank property, special ecological study areas, military bases, many easements, etc.);

Unknown is assigned where information is not currently available.

[3] Open requires no special requirements for public access to the property (may include regular hours of availability);

[4] Restricted requires a special permit from the owner for access, a registration permit on public land (e.g. self-permitting Wild and Scenic River, backcountry Wilderness registration) or has highly variable times when open to use (e.g. Wildlife Area with seasonal closures to protect winter range or breeding habitat);

[5] Closed occurs where no public access is allowed (e.g. land bank property, special ecological study areas, military bases, many easements, etc.);

[6] Unknown is assigned where information is not currently available.

[3] International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) management categories assigned to protected areas for inclusion in the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Center (UNEP-WCMC) World Database for Protected Areas (WDPA) and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) North American Terrestrial Protected Areas Database. IUCN defines a protected area as, "A clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values" (includes GAP Status Code 1 and 2 only). Categorization follows as:
IUCN Category Ia - Strict Nature Reserves are strictly protected areas set aside to protect biodiversity and possibly geological or geomorphological features, where human visitation, use and impacts are strictly controlled and limited to ensure preservation of the conservation values. Such protected areas can serve as indispensable reference areas for scientific research and monitoring;

IUCN Category Ib - Wilderness Areas protected areas are usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas, retaining their natural character and influence, without permanent or significant human habitation, which are protected and managed to preserve their natural condition;

IUCN Category II - National Park protected areas are large natural or near natural areas set aside to protect large-scale ecological processes, along with the complement of species and ecosystems characteristic of the area, which also provide a foundation for environmentally and culturally compatible spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities;

IUCN Category III - Natural Monument or Feature protected areas are set aside to protect a specific natural monument, which can be a landform, seamount, submarine caverns, geological features such as caves, or even a living feature such as an ancient grove. They are generally quite small protected areas and often have high visitor value;

IUCN Category IV - Habitat and (or) species management protected areas 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 of this category;

IUCN Category V Protected landscape and (or) seascape protected areas occur where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with significant ecological, biological, cultural, and scenic value;

IUCN Category VI - Protected area with sustainable use (community based, non-industrial) of natural resources are generally large, with much of the area in a more-or-less natural condition and whereas a proportion is under sustainable natural resource management and where such exploitation is seen as one of the main aims of the area.

Other Conservation Areas are not recognized by IUCN at this time; however, they will be evaluated to determine if they meet the definition of Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) for inclusion in the WDPA following recently released guidance. These areas (GAP Status Code 3 areas only) are attributed in the 'IUCN Category' Domain along with 'Unassigned' areas (GAP Status Code 4).

In addition, a few areas are included as 'Not Reported', these areas meet the definition of IUCN protection (i.e. GAP Status Code 1 or 2) but 'IUCN Category' has not yet been assigned and categorical assignment is not appropriate. See the PAD-US Data Manual for a summary of methods.

[8] IUCN Category Ia - Strict Nature Reserves are strictly protected areas set aside to protect biodiversity and possibly geological or geomorphological features, where human visitation, use and impacts are strictly controlled and limited to ensure preservation of the conservation values. Such protected areas can serve as indispensable reference areas for scientific research and monitoring;

[9] IUCN Category Ib - Wilderness Areas protected areas are usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas, retaining their natural character and influence, without permanent or significant human habitation, which are protected and managed to preserve their natural condition;

[10] IUCN Category II - National Park protected areas are large natural or near natural areas set aside to protect large-scale ecological processes, along with the complement of species and ecosystems characteristic of the area, which also provide a foundation for environmentally and culturally compatible spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities;

[11] IUCN Category III - Natural Monument or Feature protected areas are set aside to protect a specific natural monument, which can be a landform, seamount, submarine caverns, geological features such as caves, or even a living feature such as an ancient grove. They are generally quite small protected areas and often have high visitor value;

[12] IUCN Category IV - Habitat and (or) species management protected areas 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 of this category;

[13] IUCN Category V Protected landscape and (or) seascape protected areas occur where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with significant ecological, biological, cultural, and scenic value;

[14] IUCN Category VI - Protected area with sustainable use (community based, non-industrial) of natural resources are generally large, with much of the area in a more-or-less natural condition and whereas a proportion is under sustainable natural resource management and where such exploitation is seen as one of the main aims of the area.

[15] Other Conservation Areas are not recognized by IUCN at this time; however, they will be evaluated to determine if they meet the definition of Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) for inclusion in the WDPA following recently released guidance. These areas (GAP Status Code 3 areas only) are attributed in the 'IUCN Category' Domain along with 'Unassigned' areas (GAP Status Code 4).

[16] In addition, a few areas are included as 'Not Reported', these areas meet the definition of IUCN protection (i.e. GAP Status Code 1 or 2) but 'IUCN Category' has not yet been assigned and categorical assignment is not appropriate. See the PAD-US Data Manual for a summary of methods.

[1]

[2]

[3]

United States/Public lands/PAD-US/Alabama

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