Source of the Zambezi (7178)
Zambia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Source of the Zambezi
Central coordinates: Latitude: -11.3667, Longitude: 24.3167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1445 to 1490
Area of KBA (km2): 42.31372
Protected area coverage (%): 8.55
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Lying along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, about 50 km north of Mwinilunga, the focus of this site is the strip of forest along the small valley which constitutes the source of the River Zambezi. The forest is surrounded by rich miombo that also covers most of the reserve’s area. Beyond the boundary are a few scattered villages.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 3 for key species. It is the forest species that are of most interest—species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome include Columba iriditorques, Bleda syndactyla and Terpsiphone rufiventer, and a large number of miombo species also occur. One species of the Afrotropical Highlands biome is present: Bradypterus alfredi. Non-bird biodiversity: It is likely that the site holds many species of animal and plant with limited distributions in Zambia.
Habitats
Land use: forestry | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Being a National Monument, this is a relatively high-profile site and therefore perhaps under less threat of habitat destruction than many. However, the surrounding woodland is slowly being cleared for small-scale farming and the site may be in danger of becoming an ‘island’. Trees within the area are sometimes felled for honey and subsistence hunting, and trapping would appear to be increasing. An attendant mans a gate on the approach road and all visitors travelling by road sign a register.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |