Kalungwishi (7204)
Zambia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Kalungwishi
Central coordinates: Latitude: -9.8667, Longitude: 30.3333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1600 to 1650
Area of KBA (km2): 146.2548
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site is currently a disused farm, owned by the state, but up for sale. About 100 km east-north-east of Kasama and lying at the headwaters of the Kalungwishi river, it is in one of the highest parts of the Northern Province. At its heart is a vast dambo flanking the river and its many tributaries, which also support numerous patches of mushitu. The remaining area is predominantly miombo and both the ranch and adjacent areas are very sparsely populated.
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 site is poorly known, but clearly holds a rich diversity of species owing to the variety and maturity of the habitat. Grus carunculatus is a resident and probably breeds, while Gallinago media winters. Characteristic of the dambo are Coturnix chinensis, Turnix hottentotta, Sarothrura lugens, Caprimulgus natalensis, Hirundo nigrorufa, Schoenicola brevirostris, Cisticola tinniens, Macronyx fuellebornii, M. ameliae, Euplectes hartlaubi and Anomalospiza imberbis. Mushitu species known to occur include Cossypha bocagei, Bradypterus lopezi, Phylloscopus laurae, Apalis cinerea and Telophorus multicolor, and the miombo holds a large number of Zambezian biome endemics. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: At present the area is virtually pristine and benefits from the very low density of human habitation. However, the site needs very careful monitoring, especially if it is sold and subdivided.