Quantifying the contribution to biodiversity conservation of protected areas governed by indigenous peoples and local communities

•Biodiversity status of protected areas governed by indigenous peoples and local communities does not fit one standard formula•The contribution of local protected area governance is complementary to state governance•Community governed areas in Australia and Brazil show slower rate of forest loss than other protected area governance types and significantly larger mean size•Namibia’s community protected areas have higher terrestrial coverage and represent higher ecoregional protection equality than other governance types