Parks and Protected Areas Located Near And Atoll Biosphere Reserve in Pohnpei

Utwe-Walung Marine Park: A Protected Marine and Terrestrial Landscape in Kosrae

Mapping the intersection of volcanic forest and coral reef systems.

Utwe-Walung Marine Park encompasses a contiguous protected area on the island of Kosrae, featuring a dramatic transition from dense interior rainforests to sheltered mangrove inlets and vibrant nearshore coral reefs. This conservation zone is known for its high-quality habitat continuity and serves as a significant example of community-managed island ecosystems within the Federated States of Micronesia.

Established

1990

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Scope

Mixed

Kuop Marine Protected Area: Geographic Overview and Protected Reef Boundaries in Chuuk State

A remote and uninhabited Pacific coral atoll conservation landscape

Kuop stands as a primary example of large scale marine protection, characterized by its elongated reef structure and central lagoon. This uninhabited Micronesian atoll provides a unique opportunity to study pristine coral ecosystems and remote island geography far from coastal development.

Area

0.5 km²

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Access

Remote access

Ailinginae Atoll Protected Area: Geographic Overview and Mapped Lagoon Systems

Remote coral atoll landscape in the Marshall Islands

Uncover the geographic structure of Ailinginae Atoll, an uninhabited coral ring in the Marshall Islands characterized by its expansive internal lagoon and narrow island segments. This protected area offers significant insight into the terrain of low-lying Pacific atoll ecosystems and their role within the Ralik Chain geographic framework.

Area

2.8 km²

Relief

Lowland

Water

Water-dominated

Rongelap Atoll Protected Area: Geography, Reef Structure, and Marshall Islands Context

Coral atoll terrain in the Pacific Ralik Chain

Located in the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands, Rongelap Atoll consists of 61 low-lying coral motus that enclose a lagoon covering 2,600 square kilometers. The atoll serves as a significant geographic study area, known for its distinct reef-built structure and its enduring role in Pacific history. This protected area continues to represent the ecological and cultural complexity of the Micronesian archipelago.

Area

21 km²

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Access

Remote access

Kwajalein Atoll Protected Area and Marshall Islands Geographic Landscape Mapping

Pacific coral atoll structure and lagoon geography

Kwajalein Atoll represents a mature coral formation encompassing an immense lagoon within the Ralik Chain. The landscape consists of low-lying islets and interconnected reef structures that define the maritime geography of the Marshall Islands. This assessment provides a focus on the structural, mapped, and physical attributes that distinguish this protected site within the wider Pacific regional context.

Area

16.4 km²

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Access

Highly restricted

Namdrik Atoll Protected Area: Geography and Coastal Ecosystems in the Marshall Islands

A remote Ramsar-recognized coral atoll and marine wetland.

Namdrik Atoll is a distinctive coral atoll within the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands, recognized for its exceptional mangrove forests and protected marine ecosystems. This area consists of two wooded islands enclosing a large lagoon without navigable passes, creating an isolated habitat for sea turtles and diverse reef life. Explore the geography of this small, ecologically significant protected land that represents the unique environmental character of the central Pacific.

Area

2.8 km²

Established

2012

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Rongerik Atoll Protected Area: Mapping the Marshall Islands Coral Landscape

Remote coral atoll geography and lagoon structures in the Ralik Chain.

Rongerik Atoll presents a textbook example of Pacific atoll geography, where a cluster of small islets encloses an expansive lagoon. As a protected area located in the remote Marshall Islands, this site serves as a vital point of study for understanding coral reef systems and the isolated island terrain of the Ralik Chain. The landscape provides clear insights into the physical contrast between narrow coral landmasses and the deep interior waters characteristic of the region.

Area

1.68 km²

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Access

Remote access

Likiep Atoll: A Mapped Protected Area in the Marshall Islands Ratak Chain

Coral atoll geography and historical colonial landscape features

Likiep Atoll consists of 65 islands encircling a 424 square kilometer lagoon. As a protected area in the Marshall Islands, it offers insight into low lying atoll topography, unique marine environments, and the cultural remnants of successive colonial administrations.

Area

10.26 km²

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Access

Remote access

Jaluit Atoll Nature Reserve: Protected Coral Landscapes in the Marshall Islands

Coastal reef and lagoon geography of the Ralik Chain

Jaluit Atoll constitutes a sprawling nature reserve in the Marshall Islands, characterized by its kite shaped lagoon and 91 low lying coral islets. As a recognized Ramsar wetland site, this protected area offers a deep look into Pacific atoll structure and the interplay between marine conservation and historical heritage. The atoll remains a central geographic feature of the Ralik Chain.

Area

11.34 km²

Established

2004

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Ailuk Atoll Protected Area: Geography and Mapped Coral Landscapes in the Marshall Islands

Pacific atoll terrain, lagoon systems, and island geography

Study the geographic composition of Ailuk Atoll, featuring its classic ring of coral islets, deep-water reef passes, and vast central lagoon. This protected area offers insight into the subsidence-driven formation of Marshallese island chains and the enduring human reliance on traditional maritime navigation within a fragile Pacific ecosystem.

Area

5.4 km²

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Access

Remote access

Bikar Atoll Protected Area: Geographic Overview of a Remote Marshall Islands Coral Atoll

A pristine, uninhabited coral sanctuary and critical Pacific marine habitat.

Bikar Atoll is a remote, diamond-shaped coral ring located in the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. Defined by its shallow lagoon, continuous reef structure, and arid islets, the atoll serves as a vital nesting site for seabirds and green turtles. This protected area remains one of the most ecologically undisturbed sites in the Pacific, offering rare insight into natural atoll morphology and island conservation.

Area

0.5 km²

Established

2025

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Bokak Atoll Protected Area: Mapping the Northern Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands

A remote coral atoll with a rare perched lagoon and pristine reef ecosystem

Bokak Atoll represents a primary example of an undisturbed central Pacific coral atoll, defined by its lack of introduced species and its striking perched lagoon. The landscape consists of low coral islets along a crescent reef, creating a specialized habitat for seabird colonies and stony coral reefs. This geographic overview examines the atoll's isolation and its status as a critical protected natural area within the wider Marshall Islands territory.

Area

129 km²

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Access

Remote access

Majuro: Mapping the Protected Coral Atoll Landscapes and Island Geography of the Marshall Islands

Regional atoll atlas and protected lagoon geography.

Majuro serves as the primary administrative and geographic anchor within the Marshall Islands. This detailed mapping showcases the atoll's signature structure, characterized by 64 narrow islets enclosing a massive, sheltered 295 square kilometer lagoon. Delve into the specific landforms and regional marine geography that define this Pacific protected environment.

Area

9.7 km²

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Access

Moderate access

Arno Atoll: A Rare Triple Lagoon Coral Protected Area in the Marshall Islands

Mapped geography and hydrological landscape context

Arno Atoll stands out as a unique geographic entity in the Ratak Chain with its triple lagoon configuration. Spanning 133 islands in the North Pacific, this protected area offers insight into atoll reef systems, low lying coral landscapes, and the environmental framework of the Marshall Islands.

Area

13 km²

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Scope

Mixed

Mili Atoll Protected Area: Geographic Boundaries and Marshall Islands Landscape Context

Mapped coral atoll terrain in the Ratak Chain

Mili Atoll represents a complex protected landscape in the central Pacific, defined by its massive lagoon and distributed ring of 92 islets. Gain a deeper understanding of its physical geography, including tidal reef flats, low-lying coral formations, and the enduring historical artifacts that shape the contemporary environment of this significant Marshall Islands site.

Area

14.9 km²

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Tropical

Access

Remote access

YUS Conservation Area: Mapping the Geographic Range of a Community-Led Wildlife Reserve

Protected tropical forest landscapes in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

YUS Conservation Area represents a significant shift in regional conservation, protecting a massive altitudinal gradient on the Huon Peninsula. From coastal coral reef environments to the rugged ridges of the Saruwaged Mountains, the area preserves critical montane habitats and riverine corridors. This dataset provides insight into its unique geography, spanning lowland forests to highland peaks while showcasing a model of land management driven by customary community agreements.

Area

760 km²

Established

2009

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Tropical

McAdam National Park; Geographic Atlas of Protected Highland Forests in Morobe Province

Highland montane forest and rugged ridge landscapes

McAdam National Park preserves a rugged stretch of montane rainforest in Papua New Guinea's Bulolo region. Rising over 1,200 meters, this protected area features steep forested slopes and narrow valleys that define the geography of the Morobe interior. Our atlas provides insights into the park's boundaries and its position within the broader highland ecosystem of the province.

Relief

Mountain

Scope

Terrestrial

Water

Minor water

Mount Wilhelm Protected Area: Papua New Guinea's Highest Peak and Alpine Terrain

Mapped geography and protected landscape context for a key Oceania peak.

Mount Wilhelm represents a significant protected area and the highest mountain in Papua New Guinea. Situated within the Bismarck Range, its dramatic granite peak defines a unique alpine environment, transitioning from dense rainforests to high-altitude grasslands. The presence of twin glacial lakes, Piunde and Aunde, adds to its distinctiveness, offering insight into the region's varied natural terrain and its role as a key geographical landmark.

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Access

Moderate access

Scope

Terrestrial

Baiyer River Sanctuary: Protected Highland Rainforest and River Valley Geography

Nature reserve in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea.

Located within the Western Highlands, Baiyer River Sanctuary protects 740 hectares of dense oak-dominated rainforest. This nature reserve provides essential habitat for birds-of-paradise, maintaining a continuous canopy across high-rainfall mountain slopes that bridges the transition between lowland and alpine ecosystems.

Area

7.4 km²

Established

1968

Relief

Upland

Climate

Tropical

Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area: Geography and Protected Land Boundaries in Chimbu Province

Central highland rainforest and cordillera wilderness terrain.

Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area encompasses a massive tract of undisturbed highland rainforest across the central cordillera of Papua New Guinea. This protected zone demonstrates a unique intersection of tropical montane biodiversity and community-led conservation, providing an essential refuge defined by steep topography, persistent moisture, and continuous forest cover that stretches across the Chimbu Province.

Relief

Highland

Water

Major water bodies