Chisamba (7193)
Zambia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Chisamba
Central coordinates: Latitude: -15.0000, Longitude: 28.2500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1100 to 1100
Area of KBA (km2): 616.03717
Protected area coverage (%): 20.76
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site straddles the main Lusaka–Kabwe road, just west of Chisamba, and encompasses several private farms and a National Forest (c.4,000 ha). The terrain is very varied. Much of the area is miombo and munga woodland and there are also large patches of thicket, some small strips of riparian forest, a few dambos and several rocky hills. In the farmed areas there is cleared pasture, arable land and there are numerous dams. At least three of the farms now operate game ranches and, in addition to the direct ecological benefits, such areas also receive better protection. Tourist facilities are established in some places and are being developed in others. Within the National Forest are several sites of historic interest.
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. As well as a wide variety of Zambezian biome endemics, the area is most important for its resident population of Lybius chaplini. The dams support large numbers of waterbirds, and in the past the globally threatened Egretta vinaceigula was recorded regularly, although it is only irregular at present. Crex crex and Gallinago media winter, Circus macrourus and Falco naumanni are both regular on passage and Glareola nordmanni has been recorded staying through the non-breeding season. Other notable species include Stephanoaetus coronatus, Pachycoccyx audeberti, Lybius minor (on the southern edge of its range) and Amblyospiza albifrons. Circus macrourus and Falco naumanni are both regular on passage and Glareola nordmanni has been recorded staying through the non-breeding season. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 22 | |
| Grassland | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 44 | |
| Shrubland | 31 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The protected status and condition of the National Forest requires monitoring, but otherwise there are few threats.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |