Liwonde National Park (6676)
Malawi, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, B1
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Liwonde National Park
Central coordinates: Latitude: -14.8693, Longitude: 35.3297
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 474 to 921
Area of KBA (km2): 492.57506
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Liwonde National Park (LNP) is a fenced protected area located in southern Malawi, southeast of the capital, Lilongwe. Mopane, Colophospermum mopane, woodland is the dominant vegetation covering 266.07 km2. LNP is bounded in the west by the Shire River and Lake Malombe, and in the east by the hills and ridges of the Chinguni escarpment. The topography is gently sloping, upward from the Shire River, and is broken by two isolated groups of hills. The park has an annual rainfall of 600–1 000 mm, the average precipitation is 944 mm per year, with the majority of rainfall occurring between December and March. During the rainy season water is available throughout the park in rivers, streams and natural depressions. Temperatures are cooler from May to July with isolated showers. From August to early November the park is very hot and dry with temperatures ranging from 35 to 43 °C. While LNP contains a multitude of seasonal rivers and streams, only a few pockets of water remain scattered around the park by September, making the Shire River the main water source for the diverse fauna in the park. The central section of the park has three artificial waterholes that supply water to the ‘fenced’ Rhino Sanctuary.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: Liwonde National Park qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) of international significance due to its unique combination of geographically restricted species, critical habitats for threatened wildlife. Eight species trigger KBA criteria in Liwonde National Park: Gyps africanus (White-backed vulture) triggering criteria A1a and A1c, Oreochromis squamipinnis (Chambo) triggering criteria A1a, A1c; Oreochromis karongae (Chambo) triggering criteria A1c; Labeo mesops (Ntchila) triggering criteria A1a, A1c; Hippopotamus amphibius (hippopotamus) triggering criteria A1b and A1d; Diceros bicornis (black rhinoceros) triggering criteria A1a and A1c; Lilian Lovebird (Agapornis lilianae) triggering criteria B1; and Loxodonta africana (African elephant) triggering criteria A1c.
Additional biodiversity: Liwonde National Park hosts one of the two populations of Black Rhino, cheetah and African Wild dog in Malawi. The site has also recorded sightings of Rüppell’s Vultures (Gyps rueppelli) and Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) for the first time in Malawi. Several other key species are found in the area such as Pangolins, lions, hyenas, Southern Ground Hornbill, Hooded Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, White-headed Vulture, several species of threatened fish species, different species of antelopes, reptiles and over 380 species of birds.
Manageability of the site: Liwonde National Park was established in 1973 as a protected area managed by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). However, since 2015, African Parks signed a public-private partnership with DNPW and took over management of the park.
Supersedes another site: This is a reassessment of Liwonde National Park which was previously an Important Bird Area (ITS A RE-ASSESSSMENT HENCE N/A WOULD BE OKEY)
Other site values: Indigenous groups do not hold the customary rights inside this site.
Delineation rationale: The site includes the entire boundary of Liwonde National Park as gazetted by Malawi Government in 1973.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The site is dominated by Mopane woodland and scrub woodland, and along the Shire Floodplains are grasslands.
(HABITAT % IS 74. WHAT IS THE OTHER 26% COMPOST OF?)
Land use: It a protected area
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 74 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical dry |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats to animals are present through poaching, human wildlife conflict, and the flooding of the Shire River, caused naturally and through the activity of dams downstream that are not operated by the park.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Tiwonge I Mzumara, Michael R Perrin & Colleen T Downs (2016) Comparative performance of four survey Methods for assessing Lilian’s Lovebird abundance in Liwonde National Park, Malawi, Ostrich, 87:3, 247-253, DOI: 10.2989/00306525.2016.1206042
Tiwonge I Mzumara, Michael R Perrin & Colleen T Downs (2014) Distribution of Lilian's Lovebirds in
Malawi, Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology, 85:3, 267-272, DOI: 10.2989/00306525.2014.963187
GBIF.org (10 August 2024) GBIF Occurrence Download https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.n8p4d5
Sievert, O. (2020). Early Post-Release Movements, Prey Preference and Habitat Selection of
Reintroduced Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in Liwonde National Park, Malawi. Stellenbosch
University.
BirdLife International. 2018. Agapornis lilianae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22685356A131916985. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22685356A131916985.en. Accessed on 10 August 2024.
Sievert, O., Reid, C. & Gaylard, A. 2021. Aerial Survey Report 2020: Liwonde National Park, Malawi.
Report prepared for African Parks. Liwonde, Malawi: Liwonde National Park.
EAD & MUST. 2022. Malawi Spatial Biodiversity Assessment, version 2.0. Mapping Biodiversity Priorities Project, Lilongwe, Malawi.
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/0981b455e3204502af61fdbb3a6d2400/page/Ecosystem-Threat-Status/
Contributors: Benford Kayuni, Malawi University of Science and Technology
Dr. Tiwonge I. Mzumara-Gawa, Malawi University of Science and Technology
Charles Maruwasa, Liwonde National Park, Funding and Reporting Manager
Eleanor Comley, Liwonde National Park, Conservation and Research Manager