The dataset on Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) was created in 2014 by Cogea for the European Marine Observation and Data Network. This dataset is entirely based on GIS Data from the European Environmental Agency (EEA), plus additional info and selected EEA tabular data added as feature attributes, as well as the Cogea's calulation of marine and coastal location of features. It is available for viewing and download on EMODnet web portal (Human Activities, https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities). The CDDA is commonly known as 'Nationally designated areas' and it is the official source of protected areas information from the 38 European countries, members of the Eionet, to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA). The data are delivered by the Eionet partnership countries as spatial and tabular information. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now one of the agreed Eionet priority data flows maintained by EEA with support from the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity. The dataset is used by the EEA and e.g. the UNEP-WCMC for their main European and global assessments, products and services. Geographical coverage: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo (under UNSC Resolution 1244/99), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. EEA does not have permission to distribute some or all sites reported by Estonia, Ireland and Turkey. In the webmap the dataset has been filtered in order to show only marine and coastal areas. Where available each polygon has the following main attributes: CDDA ID, country code, country name, site name, legal foundation date, national ID, area type/code (Designated Boundary or Site), IUCN category/description (Ia: Strict Nature Reserve; Ib: Wilderness Area; II: National Park; III: Natural Monument or Feature; IV: Habitat/Species Management Area; V: Protected Landscape/ Seascape; VI: Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources; Not applicable; Not assigned; Not reported), area (ha), major ecosystem type (Marine, Marine and terrestrial, Terrestrial), marine area percentage, spatial resolution (Scale 100K-250K, Scale Larger 100K, Unknown), remarks, marine/coastal location (1). For further information please visit the EEA's website. Compared with the previous release, this one includes the updated dataset 'CDDA_2023_v01_public' published by the EEA in June 2023.