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wdpar

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What wdpar is

wdpar is a free R package for obtaining and preparing protected-area data from Protected Planet. It can retrieve records from the World Database on Protected Areas and the World Database on Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures. The `wdpa_fetch()` function downloads data, while `wdpa_clean()` applies described cleaning practices to WDPA and WDOECM records. Cleaning can remove unimplemented or limited-value areas, replace missing-data codes, convert point geometries into circles, repair topology, and erase overlaps. wdpar runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and requires the R packages `curl` and `sf`. An optional `prepr` package can extend cleaning and may be needed for especially severe geometry problems. Installing `prepr` from source may require platform-specific system libraries and a Chromium-based browser. Accurate country coverage statistics require users to clip cleaned data manually to a coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone. The package uses the GPL-3 license, with GitHub issues for bug reports and a contributing guide. Its deployment type is desktop, and listed spatial analysis is basic.

Who it suits

wdpar suits R users working with protected-area datasets from Protected Planet. It is useful when reproducible downloading and geometry cleaning are needed across desktop operating systems.

What it does well

  • Free GPL-3 R package
  • Fetches WDPA and WDOECM data
  • Cleaning handles geometry and overlaps
  • Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows
  • GitHub issues and contributing guide

What to know first

  • Requires R packages curl and sf
  • Optional prepr installation may need system libraries
  • Country statistics require manual clipping
  • Listed spatial analysis is basic

Verdict

wdpar provides focused retrieval and cleaning tools for Protected Planet datasets. Users should plan for the R dependencies and manual coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone clipping when calculating country coverage.

Facts from wdpar's own pages

Cleaning features
Cleaning can exclude unimplemented or limited-value areas, replace missing-data codes, convert point geometries to circles, repair topology, and erase overlaps. · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Cleaning function
The `wdpa_clean()` function cleans WDPA and WDOECM data following described best practices. · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Coverage statistics limit
Users must manually clip cleaned data to a coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone for accurate country coverage statistics. · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Data sources
It can automatically obtain data from the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and the World Database on Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (WDOECM). · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Download function
The `wdpa_fetch()` function downloads protected-area data. · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Installation limits
Installing `prepr` from source may require platform-specific system libraries and a Chromium-based browser. · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
License
The package is distributed under the GPL-3 license. · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Optional dependency
The optional `prepr` package can augment cleaning and may be required for especially extreme geometry issues. · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Platforms
The installation instructions cover Windows, Ubuntu, Linux/Unix-like systems, and macOS. · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Purpose
wdpar is an R package that provides an interface to protected-area data from Protected Planet. · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
R dependencies
The package requires the R packages `curl` and `sf`. · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Support
The project links to GitHub issues for bug reports and provides a contributing guide. · prioritizr.github.io, 5 Oct 2026

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