California's Marine Protected Area Network joins IUCN Green List – more than doubling number of sites worldwide

Spanning California’s entire 1,770 km coastline and protecting 16% of state waters, the California MPA Network comprises 124 sites governed under a single, science-based, stakeholder-driven system. It is the largest MPA network in North America and one of the most comprehensive in the world. The inclusion of the California MPA network comes as representatives from around the world gather in France for the United Nations Oceans Conference.

The Green List is a global initiative that recognises and promotes fair and effective management of protected and conserved areas. The expansion underscores the Green List’s ambition to engage at least 1,000 sites by 2030 as part of its contribution to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

“The inclusion of the California MPA Network on the IUCN Green List marks a major milestone for global conservation,” said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General. “It brings us much closer to our goal of recognising 1,000 protected areas worldwide that meet the highest standards of effectiveness and equity.”

“This achievement highlights how entire networks - when built on science, collaboration, and fairness - can deliver real, measurable results for nature. Strong marine and coastal conservation is essential for thriving ocean life, resilient ecosystems, and a healthier planet for all, and we are proud to celebrate this landmark moment.”

The California Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL) led the six-year evaluation of the site to reach Green List status, with the support of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and engagement of the Ocean Protection Council, and the Tribal Marine Stewards Network. Their work with IUCN helped develop new procedures for evaluating network-scale governance, paving the way for future listings of ecological systems and underlining the need to enhance governance involving all stakeholders, including tribal coordination.

“We’re thrilled that California’s marine protected area network will join the IUCN Green List,” said Wade Crowfoot, California’s Secretary for Natural Resources. “As the first nature network in the world to be awarded Green List status, the system of 124 protected areas along our coast provides an important model of science-based conservation at large scale.  

“Nature networks like this are essential to protect and restore nature across our planet and help all life thrive.”  

In addition to the California MPA Network, four other globally significant sites were added to the Green List:

• Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire – One of the largest protected areas in West Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Comoé is known for its exceptional plant diversity and the presence of both savannah and rainforest species. Its listing reflects decades of strong management and community engagement to preserve its rich biodiversity and ecological integrity.

• Taï National Park–N’Zo Complex, Côte d’Ivoire – This World Heritage Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve protects one of the last remaining tracts of primary tropical rainforest in West Africa. Home to endangered primates, forest elephants, and over 1,200 plant species, the park stands as a vital sanctuary for species survival and ecosystem resilience. 

• Uruq Bani Ma‘arid Protected Area, Saudi Arabia – Located at the edge of the Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter), this site conserves one of the world’s most dramatic desert landscapes. The IUCN Green List achievement highlights the area’s success in reintroducing extinct-in-the-wild species such as the Arabian Oryx and its efforts to blend traditional stewardship with modern conservation science. 

• Pin Supu Forest Reserve, Malaysia – Co-managed by the Sabah Forestry Department and the Indigenous-led KOPEL cooperative, Pin Supu is a model for inclusive, community-driven conservation. Despite its small size, the reserve plays a key role in ecological connectivity in Borneo’s Kinabatangan region and supports rare species like orangutans and Bornean elephants. 

The announcement comes in the lead-up to the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress, weeks ahead of the UNFCCC COP30 in Brazil in November, where world leaders and conservationists will convene to accelerate action for nature.

CBD Decisions have invited Parties to the Convention to promote the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas as a voluntary standard to promote and encourage protected area management effectiveness, and the monitoring framework for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework lists the IUCN List of Protected and Conserved Areas as a complementary indicator for Target 3.

With these newest additions, the Green List counts 94 listings covering 200+ sites in over 20 countries around the world. The IUCN Green List celebrates sites that meet rigorous standards for effective management, equitable governance, and conservation impact - key pillars of IUCN’s mission on protected and conserved areas, and a major contribution to meeting national and global goals for biodiversity conservation.