N deposition as a threat to the World's protected areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity

► Significant areas of the Protected Areas Programme under the CBD will likely be under threat of high N deposition levels by the year 2030.► Approx. 950 PAs are projected to receive N deposition levels of more than 30 kg N/ha/yr by 2030.► 62 of these sites are also Biodiversity Hotspots and G200 ecoregions, where forest and grassland ecosystems in Asia will be particularly at risk.► Many of these sites are known to be sensitive to N deposition effects, both in terms of biodiversity changes and ecosystem services they provide ► Urgent assessment of high risk areas identified in this study is recommended to inform the conservation efforts of the CBD.