Effects of Human Activities on Zambia's Kafue Flats Ecosystems

Abstract

Hydroelectric dams have markedly altered the extensive floodplain of Zambia's Kafue River Flats. Before the dams were built in the 1970s, some 6,000 km2 of floodplain were under water for several months each year, permitting a dense growth of grasses and forbs that supported large populations of ungulates and waterbirds. Now a dam at the lower end of the Flats has permanently inundated parts of the floodplain, and a dam at the upper end has reduced the seasonal flooding, so that much of the floodplain is now probably permanently dry. When the Flats was revisited in 1983, the effect of the dams was obscured by the effects of drought, hunting, and human use.In 1983, plant growth in most places was much less luxuriant than it had been before impoundment. Bird populations seemed much smaller than formerly, and populations of at least some ungulates had declined. The most abundant ungulate, the Lechwe (Kobus leche), is reported to have declined by about half in the last eight years.

Risk factors associated with bovine tuberculosis in traditional cattle of the livestock/wildlife interface areas in the Kafue basin of Zambia

“…1). The Kafue basin is a floodplain of about 6000 km 2 (Ghirotti et al, 1991;Munag'andu et al, 2006;Siamudaala et al, 2003) comprising Lochinvar National Park in the south (410 km 2 ), Blue Lagoon National Park in the north (420 km 2 ) and Kafue basin Game Management Areas (5175 km 2 ) (Sheppe, 1985). The Kafue lechwe is the predominant wildlife species of the Kafue basin (Mwima, 1995) and is confined to a relatively small area, particularly in and around the Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon National Parks.…”

“…The Kafue lechwe antelope is the predominant wildlife species of the Kafue basin (Sheppe, 1985). It is a gregarious medium sized semi-aquatic antelope living in very large groups that become further concentrated during the rainy (due to floods) and dry season (due to limited grazing and watering points).…”

Arthropod Diversity and Abundance Along the Kihansi Gorge (Kihansi River) in the Southern Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania

“…This situation may exist along the Kihansi Gorge. Furthermore, it is known that damming results in a loss of biodiversity (Attwell, 1970;El Moghraby & El Sammani, 1985;Happold, 1995;Pimm, 1991;Sheppe, 1985). Clark & Samways (1997) higWighted that in biodiversity conservation, it is very important to conserve pristine or near-pristine habitats, especially in areas of high endemism.…”

Effects of a hydropower plant on Coleopteran diversity and abundance in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania

“…In Zambia, construction of the Itzehitezhi Hydroelectric Dam along the Kafue River resulted in a dramatic change in diversity and abundance of ungulates, insects and birds (Sheppe 1985;Happold 1995). Attwell (1970) reported a decrease in insect species along the Zambezi flood plain due to construction of the Kariba dam.…”