North Luangwa National Park (7196)
Zambia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: North Luangwa National Park

Central coordinates: Latitude: -11.8833, Longitude: 32.1833

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 600 to 1300

Area of KBA (km²): 4534.7662

Protected area coverage (%): 99.43

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Situated wholly on the west bank of the Luangwa river, the park lies upstream from South Luangwa National Park and is separated from it by a 30–40-km-wide corridor (Munyamadzi Game Management Area). Much of the area lies between 600–900 m and is dominated by mopane, although large areas of this woodland have been destroyed by elephants when poaching pressure has caused them to concentrate in safe areas. Away from the river, the park climbs towards the first ridges of the Muchinga Escarpment and, in places, reaches over 1,300 m. Here, the better-drained soils support miombo. There are smaller patches of munga and riparian forest, but little grassland. Compared to its sister park it is poorly known and access is restricted.

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. The avifauna is very similar to that of South Luangwa (ZM019). The Zambezian biome endemics include Neocichla gutturalis and several species typical of escarpment woodland such as Nectarinia shelleyi and Plocepasser rufoscapulatus. Non-bird biodiversity: A wide variety of mammals occur, including Loxodonta africana (EN) and good numbers of the endemic subspecies Connochaetes taurinus cooksoni.

Habitats

Land use: hunting | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial	32
Forest	29
Shrubland	37

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area suffered considerably from poaching in the past, but is now actively protected and game numbers are increasing. Although some illegal hunting still occurs, it seems likely that the birds are not affected. Most of the park is uninhabited and, although currently not a problem, human encroachment perhaps needs to be assessed and monitored.

Additional information