Saise River (7206)
Zambia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Saise River
Central coordinates: Latitude: -8.9667, Longitude: 31.6667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1525 to 1525
Area of KBA (km2): 40.6901
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Just east of Mbala, the river and its immediate tributaries constitute the only system which drains from Zambia into Tanzania. The site covers the stretch adjacent to the border where there is papyrus swamp, a small flood-plain and rich termitaria. Villages are scattered throughout the surrounding area, cattle are grazed on the flood-plain and the river is heavily fished.
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 Tables 2 and 3 for key species. A poorly known area, apparently visited for the first and only time by ornithologists in 1996, when Ploceus reichardi was discovered in considerable numbers—it probably breeds in the area. Gallinago media occurs, and other birds found included Rallus caerulescens, Sarothrura rufa, Gallinago gallinago, G. nigripennis, Corythaixoides personatus, Tricholaema lacrymosa, Saxicola rubetra, Nectarinia mariquensis and Quelea erythrops. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 16 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 52 | |
| Shrubland | 32 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The habitat surrounding the site is somewhat degraded, but the flood-plain and swamp are relatively undisturbed. Other than some hunting and trapping of small birds, there are probably few threats to birdlife, although further investigation is required.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Leonard and Beel (1996a, 1999).