Six new nature reserves have been added to our platform's Green List, highlighting exceptional conservation efforts worldwide
New Protected Areas Join the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas
In a significant move for global conservation, six new protected areas have been added to the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas in 2025. These include expansive rangelands, deserts, grasslands, and coastal waters, totaling nearly 853,000 acres of land and 191,000 acres of coastal waters. The new additions, primarily in California, represent significant ecological value and contribute to conserving diverse habitats essential for biodiversity.
Among these, Wuyishan National Park in China stands out as a noteworthy addition. It is China’s only UNESCO Mixed Cultural and Natural World Heritage site that preserves an intact mid-subtropical forest ecosystem, providing irreplaceable scientific value and a prototype for ecological conservation integrated with tourism. The park is also renowned for distinctive Danxia landform landscapes and rich cultural heritage including tea-tourism industries. Wuyishan National Park has pioneered innovative multi-stakeholder co-governance models, actively involving local communities in conservation and sustainable tourism operations, employing over 1,200 villagers in various roles.
Canada's Hamilton Conservation Authority has contributed to the list with a diverse group of protected areas encompassing nearly 4,000 hectares across 19 properties of high ecological significance. These areas feature natural spaces such as waterfalls, lakes, wetlands, karsts, and valley preserves, all meeting national biodiversity conservation standards and supporting the 30x30 conservation target aimed at protecting 30% of land and waters by 2030.
Gorgona Natural National Park, located in Colombia, is another notable addition. It protects coral reefs, tropical rainforest, and endangered marine giants such as whale sharks and giant manta rays. The park's participatory governance and ecotourism model are helping local Afro-Colombian communities thrive.
The Green List now includes over 200 sites under 98 Listings in over 20 countries. Among these new additions, the Huanglong Natural World Heritage Site in China's Sichuan Province has been highlighted for its unique characteristics and achievements. The site, home to over 2,600 species, is a sanctuary for the giant panda and the golden snub-nosed monkey. It is dominated by an active volcano and consists of a mosaic of Andean ecosystems, sacred lagoons, and cloud forests. The Huanglong Natural World Heritage Site demonstrates harmony between ecological science and community co-management.
Other notable additions include the Jiangsu Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds National Nature Reserve, which is a vital stopover on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, and the Shaanxi Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve, a stronghold for both the giant panda and golden snub-nosed monkey. These sites, like the others on the Green List, have undergone a rigorous, independent assessment process to ensure they meet the highest standards of conservation effectiveness, equity, and sustainability.
These features highlight the ecological, cultural, and governance achievements underpinning the Green List’s global conservation standards. Each site on the Green List plays a crucial role in protecting and conserving the world's diverse ecosystems and biodiversity.
- The Huanglong Natural World Heritage Site in China's Sichuan Province, a recent addition to the Green List, is home to over 2,600 species and serves as a sanctuary for the giant panda and the golden snub-nosed monkey, demonstrating harmony between ecological science and community co-management.
- The Jiangsu Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds National Nature Reserve, another fresh addition, is a vital stopover on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, highlighting its significance for biodiversity and contributing to the 30x30 conservation target.
- Wuyishan National Park in China, a UNESCO Mixed Cultural and Natural World Heritage site, is renowned for its intact mid-subtropical forest ecosystem and its contribution to ecological conservation integrated with tourism, employing over 1,200 villagers in various roles.
- Gorgona Natural National Park in Colombia protects endangered marine giants such as whale sharks and giant manta rays, and its participatory governance and ecotourism model are helping local Afro-Colombian communities thrive. It is one of the 200 sites under 98 Listings in over 20 countries on the Green List, each meeting the highest standards of conservation effectiveness, equity, and sustainability in the face of climate change.
