Protected Area Database - AL

This page was generated on Dec 05, 2020

This analysis was generated by the OPUSInspect script, created by Brian Sperlongano. Conflation data provided by Kevin Kenney. The purpose of this analysis is to identify the IUCN Protection Category that should be tagged using the protect_class=* key for protected areas in each state in the United States. In addition, this script locates protected areas that are already tagged in OpenStreetMap and matches them by location and name with PAD-US in order to identify areas which may be incorrectly tagged with protect_class=*.

Protected areas that are not assigned an IUCN Category should still be tagged leisure=nature_reserve (which renders in Carto), but omit protect_class=*. Be aware that minor differences in naming or spelling may cause false positives or negatives; mappers should examine this table carefully.

Additionally, mappers should consult the PAD-US map-based viewer when making a determination:

Protected Area Database of the United States - Map Viewer

The PAD-US Data Source

As a work of the United States Federal Government, the PAD-US database is in the Public Domain and is suitable as a data source for OpenStreetMap. PAD-US is an aggregation over over 100 other data sources. Mappers should inspect PAD-US for accuracy and assume that there may be errors.

Note that:

Areas listed as "Not Reported" meet the definition of IUCN protection, but have not yet been assigned a category, and thus tagging with a category 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.
In some cases, more than one IUCN category is tagged. In these cases, PAD-US indicates that internal portions of the named protected area are assigned different IUCN categories.

Legend

IUCN Category	Meaning	Suggested Tagging
Ia	IUCN Category Ia: Strict Nature Reserve	`protect_class=1a`
Ib	IUCN Category Ib: Wilderness	`protect_class=1b`
II	IUCN Category II: National Park	`protect_class=2`
III	IUCN Category III: Natural Monument or Feature	`protect_class=3`
IV	IUCN Category IV: Habitat/Species Management Area	`protect_class=4`
V	IUCN Category V: Protected Landscape/Seascape	`protect_class=5`
VI	IUCN Category VI: Protected Area with Sustainable Use of Natural Resources	`protect_class=6`
Other	No assigned IUCN Category
Ia, IV, V	Multiple categories

This script output is a work in progress and may not be reliable.

Table of IUCN Categorized Protected Areas in AL

IUCN Categorized Protected Areas in AL
Area ^[1]	IUCN Cat^[2]	Ownership Type^[1]	Owner	Operator
Adams Scenic Overlook	V	SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division
Alabama Land Trust	V, Other	NGO	Local Land Trust
Alabama State Port Authority Exchange Tract	V	SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division
Autauga County Community Hunting Area	V, Other	SFW, PVT	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Private Conservation Land
Bankhead/Warrior Mountains Conservation Area 3500982 William B. Bankhead National Forest (`boundary=national_park`) ^{58.5% overlaps}	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Barbour Wildlife Management Area	V	OTHS, SFW, PVT	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Barton'S Beach Preserve 743444119 Perry Lakes Park (`leisure=park`) ^{92.0% overlaps} 743444120 Cahaba River Preserve - Barton's Beach (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{94.9% within}	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Bayfront Park 423503268 Bayfront Park (`leisure=park`) ^{exact name, 99.4% within}	III	CNTY	Unknown
Bayou Sara Tract	V	SFW	State Fish and Wildlife
Betty And Crawford Rainwater Perdido River Nature	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Bib County Glades Preserve (Individual Tracts)	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Bibb County Ketona Dolomite Glades	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Blowing Springs Cave Tract	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge 7152437 Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=4`) ^{exact name, 65.8% identical} 2644326 Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=4`) ^{exact name, 92.5% within} 2644325 Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=4`) ^{exact name, 78.3% within} 2644324 Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=4`) ^{exact name, 87.4% within} plus 2 more	IV	FWS, SLB	Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge State Land Board
Cahaba River Basin Megasite Fee	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge 288964473 Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=4`) ^{exact name, 85.2% identical}	IV	FWS	Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge	United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve 724087937 Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve (`protect_class=5`)	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database could not find an IUCN categorized protected area at this location
Chandler Mountain Macrosite	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Coon Creek Nature Preserve	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Coosa Wildlife Management Area	V	OTHS, PVT	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary 7592968 Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{exact name, 62.2% identical}	V	NGO	Unknown
David K. Nelson (Demopolis) Wildlife Management Area	V	USACE	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Dennis Cove Preserve	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Desmond	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Desoto State Park 7185092 Desoto State Park (`boundary=national_park`) ^{exact name, 36.9% overlaps}	III	SPR	State Park & Recreation	Alabama State Parks Division
Dothan Trail Park 485892008 Forever Wild Trails (`leisure=park`) ^{62.5% identical}	V	SDNR	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources	Dothan Leisure Services
Dry Creek Preserve	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Dunnavant Valley Greenway	V	CNTY	Unknown
Ebenezer Swamp Ecological Preserve 570524334 Bolton-Orr Ecological Preserve at Ebenezer Wetlands (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{85.4% identical}	V	OTHS	Unknown
Esslinger Hollow	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge 445238054 Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=4`) ^{exact name, 100.0% identical}	IV	FWS	Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge	United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Fish River Park	III	CNTY	Unknown
Frank W. and Rob M. Boykin Wildlife Management Area	V	PVT	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Fred T. Stimpson Community Hunting Area	V	SFW	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area 10807775 Natchez Trace Parkway (`protect_class=5`) ^{2.3% overlaps}	V	OTHS, SFW, PVT	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources	National Park Service
Gaston Parcel	V	SFW	State Fish and Wildlife
Goat Tree Reserve	V	NGO	Unknown
Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary 7303222 Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{exact name, 99.9% identical}	III	CITY	Unknown
Gopher Tortoise Conservation Area	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Transportation
Gorgas Swamp	V	PVT	Unknown
Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge 167464072 Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{exact name, 63.0% identical} 167464067 Grand Bay Natural Wildlife Refuge (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{11.4% within} 167464086 Grand Bay Natural Wildlife Refuge (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{7.4% within} 167464076 Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{exact name, 4.2% within} 167464069 Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{exact name, 0.0% overlaps}	IV	FWS	Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Grand Bay SLD East	V	SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division
Grand Bay SLD West 167464072 Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{0.1% overlaps}	V	SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division
Grand Bay Savanna Community Hunting Area	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Grand Bay Savanna Fee	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Gulf Islands National Seashore	V	NPS	NPS
Hollins Wildlife Management Area 7271895 Talladega National Forest (Talladega Division) (`protect_class=6`) ^{93.9% overlaps}	V	PVT	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries	United States Forest Service
Inverness Nature Park and Trails	III	CITY	Unknown
Isle Aux Herbes	V	OTHS	ADCNR, State Lands Division
J.D. & Annie S. Hays Nature Preserve 7064221 Big Cove Greenway (`leisure=park`) ^{48.2% within} 7064226 Little Cove Greenway (`leisure=park`) ^{0.0% within}	III	CITY	Unknown
Jacob Farm Addition Tract	V	SFW	State Fish and Wildlife
James D. Martin - Skyline Wildlife Management Area	V	OTHS, SFW, SDOL, PVT	ADCNR, State Lands Division ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge 117595833 Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=4`) ^{exact name, 97.9% identical}	IV	FWS	Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge
Lanark	V	NGO	Unknown
Lauderdale Wildlife Management Area	V, Other	UNK, OTHS, SFW, PVT	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Lillian Swamp Complex	V	OTHS, SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Lillian Swamp Wetlands	V	SDNR	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Little River Canyon Megasite	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Little River Canyon National Preserve 7185093 Little River Canyon National Preserve (`protect_class=6`) ^{exact name, 72.5% identical} 7185092 Desoto State Park (`boundary=national_park`) ^{0.0% within}	V	NPS	NPS	United States National Park Service
Little River Canyon National Preserve Ma Equi-Site 7185093 Little River Canyon National Preserve (`protect_class=6`) ^{100.0% overlaps}	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy	United States National Park Service
Little River Wildlife Management Area 7185093 Little River Canyon National Preserve (`protect_class=6`) ^{18.5% overlaps}	V, Other	OTHS, PVT	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Private Conservation Land	United States National Park Service
Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve 328410359 Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{exact name, 82.2% identical}	V	OTHS	Unknown	Auburn University
Lowndes Wildlife Management Area	V, Other	OTHS, SFW	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Fish and Wildlife
Mallard-Fox Creek Wildlife Management Area	V	SFW	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Mobile-Tensaw Delta Wildlife Management Area	V	USACE	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Monte Sano Nature Preserve 9079540 Monte Sano Nature Preserve (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{exact name, 74.7% overlaps} 9517835 Monte Sano State Park (`boundary=national_park`) ^{17.0% overlaps}	V	NGO	Unknown	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Parks Division
Monte Sano Preserve 9079540 Monte Sano Nature Preserve (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{98.5% overlaps} 9517835 Monte Sano State Park (`boundary=national_park`) ^{0.4% overlaps}	V	CITY	Land Trust of North Alabama
Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge 122073220 Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=6`) ^{exact name, 0.0% overlaps}	IV	FWS	Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge
Mud Creek Management Area	V	SFW	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Noccalula Falls Park 583389138 Gadsden Kiwanis Park (`leisure=park`) ^{100.0% within} 583388923 Noccalula Falls (`leisure=park`) ^{37.4% overlaps}	III	CITY	Unknown
Norman H. Foster, Sr. Tract	V	SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division
Perdido River Wildlife Management Area	V	OTHS, SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Pike County Pocosin Complex	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Portersville Bay Wetlands Tract	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Prairie Grove Glades	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Pratt'S Ferry Preserve	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Pritchett Tract 7171163 Frank Jackson State Park (`boundary=national_park`) ^{99.8% overlaps}	V	SDNR	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources	Alabama State Parks
Rabbit Island Preserve	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Raccoon Creek Wildlife Management Area	V	OTHS, SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Red Hills Complex	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Reed Brake Research Natural Area 358997249 Reed Brake Research Natural Area (`protect_class=1a`)	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database could not find an IUCN categorized protected area at this location
Riverton Community Hunting Area	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Roy B. Whitaker Preserve 445238054 Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=4`) ^{0.0% within}	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy	United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve 625136599 Ruffner Mountain (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{98.5% overlaps}	V	NGO	Unknown
Russell Cave National Monument 11085746 Russell Cave National Monument (`boundary=national_park`) ^{exact name, 100.0% identical}	III	NPS	NPS	United States National Park Service
Sam R. Murphy Wildlife Management Area	V	PVT	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge 445235257 Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=4`) ^{exact name, 100.0% identical}	IV	FWS	Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge	United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Scotch Wildlife Management Area	V	PVT	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Shoal Creek National Forest 117350491 Shoal Creek National Forest (`protect_class=6`) 117350506 Shoal Creek National Forest (`protect_class=6`) 117350521 Shoal Creek National Forest (`protect_class=6`) 117350526 Shoal Creek National Forest (`protect_class=6`) 117350527 Shoal Creek National Forest (`protect_class=6`)	*This area is tagged with `protect_class=`, but the** PAD-US database could not find an IUCN categorized protected area at this location
Shoal Creek Preserve Tract 114355311 Shoal Creek Nature Preserve Tract (`protect_class=5`) ^{94.3% identical}	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Sipsey River Complex	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Southern Cumberlands - Al	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Splinter Hill Bog	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Splinter Hill Bog Complex	V	OTHS, SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Splinter Hill Bog Fee	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Splinter Hill Bog Preserve	V	NGO	The Nature Conservancy
Steiner Property	V, Other	CITY, PVT	Unknown
The Bayou Canot Tract	V	SFW	State Fish and Wildlife
The Heron Bay Wetlands Tract	V	SDNR	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
The Mobile-Tensaw Delta Tract	V	SFW	State Fish and Wildlife
The Salco And Middle River Tracts	V	SFW	State Fish and Wildlife
Tupelo Gum Swamp	V	PVT	Unknown
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve 497494375 Turkey Creek Nature Preserve (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{exact name, 100.0% identical} 497494374 Turkey Creek Nature Preserve (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{exact name, 100.0% identical}	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Upper Delta Wildlife Management Area	V	OTHS, SFW, SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Fish and Wildlife
W. L. Holland Wildlife Management Area	V	OTHS, SFW, SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Wade Mountain Preserve	V, Other	CITY, NGO	Unknown Land Trust of North Alabama
Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge	IV	FWS	Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge
Weatherly Mountain	V	CITY	Unknown
Weeks Bay Harris And Worcester Tracts	V	OTHS	State Cultural Affairs
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve	V	OTHS, SDOL	ADCNR, State Lands Division Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Wehle Nature Preserve	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge 2451075 Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=4`) ^{exact name, 99.3% overlaps} 11646654 Triana Recreation Area (`leisure=park`) ^{97.6% within} 508700727 Sunnyside Park (`leisure=park`) ^{87.0% within} 481920966 Flamingo Park (`leisure=park`) ^{7.2% within} plus 2 more	IV	FWS, UNK	Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Wildlife Game Sanctuary	V	SFW	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
William R. Ireland, Sr. - Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area 288964473 Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (`protect_class=4`) ^{0.5% within}	V, Other	PVT	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources	United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Wolf Creek Community Hunting Area	V	PVT	ADCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Yates Lake West Wildlife Management Area 873346089 Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area (`leisure=nature_reserve`) ^{99.9% overlaps}	V	OTHS	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

References

^ Areas listed in the PAD-US are linked to the approximate area (by bounding box). Matching areas tagged in OSM are listed, with the most significant protected area tag listed.
^
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.
^ 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