Limpopo - Mwenezi flood-plain and pans (7225)
Zimbabwe, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Limpopo - Mwenezi flood-plain and pans

Central coordinates: Latitude: -22.2500, Longitude: 31.1667

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 300 to 300

Area of KBA (km²): 632.12427

Protected area coverage (%): 98.59

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Limpopo river forms the southern border of Zimbabwe with South Africa, and flows west–east. The Mwenezi river is a major tributary and flows north–south. They do not meet in Zimbabwe, but converge to a distance of 20 km apart. In between is the Sengwe Communal Land in Chiredzi District of Masvingo Province, mostly a flat and undulating area around 300 m in altitude. The border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique is a straight line across country, marked with a game fence. The three countries meet on the Limpopo river, just north of Pafuri, at 22°25’S 31°19’E. The Mwenezi river forms a boundary between the Gonarezhou National Park and the Malapati Safari Area, and has formed the Manjinji Pan (a sanctuary under the Parks and Wild Life Act) from an old oxbow. The pan is at 22°07’S 31°24’E and is in the Communal Land. There is some development of a flood-plain downstream from the pan. Towards Chikwarakwara, to the west on the Limpopo river, are more flood-plain areas. The natural vegetation of the area is mopane woodland and Terminalia woodland. Manjinji Pan is surrounded by thick woodland, dominated by fever-tree Acacia. There are many palms Hyphaene in the area. The local people practise subsistence agriculture and pastoralism with cattle and goats. They regard Manjinji Pan as a sacred area.

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. Serinus citrinipectus is common in the area, apparently associated with Hyphaene palm-savanna. Flocks of hundreds were seen in 1990. Anthreptes reichenowi has also been seen, but it is considered to be much rarer than Serinus citrinipectus. Gyps coprotheres flies over the District and is likely to feed on dead animals there. When full, the Manjinji Pan attracts hundreds of waterbirds. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | forestry

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	96
Shrubland	3

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The District Council protects the Manjinji Pan, but the local people are already in the habit of doing so. The Hyphaene palms are used to make cane furniture and the stems cut to collect sap for wine-making. Over-exploitation of the palms could threaten S. citrinipectus. Any threats to the area in general are likely to come from overgrazing and trampling by cattle.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Tourism & recreation areas		Only in the future
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Only in the future
Climate change & severe weather	Habitat shifting & alteration		Only in the future

Additional information