Barotse Floodplains (7182)
Zambia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Barotse Floodplains
Central coordinates: Latitude: -15.2833, Longitude: 23.0333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1000 to 1060
Area of KBA (km2): 7093.66143
Protected area coverage (%): 51.06
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The West Zambezi Game Management Area is situated to the west of the main river channel of the immense Zambezi flood-plain. Following good rains, much of the area becomes inundated between about February and June. At this time the area near Mongu hosts the traditional Kuomboka ceremony of the Losi people, when the king (Litunga) is transported, in an ornate boat, to his palace on higher ground. During the dry season, people move into temporary villages and cultivate large areas of the flood-plain. Much of the area is poorly known and more work is required to define the exact limits of an IBA.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. Although more data are required, the area is undoubtedly important for waterbirds, and species such as Phalacrocorax africanus, Anastomus lamelligerus, Charadrius asiaticus and Chlidonias hybridus are known to exceed their 1% thresholds. Among species of global conservation concern, Circus macrourus and Gallinago media are non-breeding visitors, as is Falco naumanni (also a passage migrant), and Grus carunculatus is a common resident or visitor, while Egretta vinaceigula has been noted occasionally. Seven species occur that are restricted to the Zambezian biome (see Table 3). Non-bird biodiversity: An endemic species of Hemisus frog is known from the site. The flora and fauna of the area are poorly known, but very few large mammals remain.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 12 | |
| Grassland | 40 | |
| Shrubland | 46 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is relatively highly populated and there is likely to be much subsistence hunting, but the extent and nature of other threats are not known and require further investigation. Recently there have been attempts to re-establish traditional land-management practices, which would benefit the environment.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |