fbpx
Wikipedia

Bangweulu Wetlands

April 10, 2024

The Bangweulu Wetlands is a wetland ecosystem adjacent to Lake Bangweulu in north-eastern Zambia. The area has been designated as one of the world's most important wetlands by the Ramsar Convention and an "Important Bird Area" by BirdLife International. African Parks began managing Bangweulu in partnership with Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife with the establishment of the Bangweulu Wetland Management Board in 2008.

Bangweulu Wetlands
Bangweulu Swamps
View of the wetlands
Location of the Bangweulu Wetlands in Zambia
Coordinates11°36′S 30°05′E / 11.600°S 30.083°E / -11.600; 30.083
Area9,850 km2 (3,800 sq mi)
Designated28 August 1991
Reference no.531[1]

Overview edit

The Bangweulu Wetlands ecosystem was first described in the 1940s.[2] Bangweulu, which means "where the water meets the sky", is located mostly within Zambia's Northern Province and recognized by the Ramsar Convention as one of the world's most important wetlands.[3] The 9,850-square-kilometre (3,800 sq mi)[4] region has floodplains, seasonally flooded grasslands, woodlands,[5] and permanent swamps fed by the Chambeshi, Luapula, Lukulu, and Lulimala rivers.[3] The nonprofit conservation organization African Parks manages a 6,000-square-kilometre (2,300 sq mi) area of the greater Bangweulu ecosystem.[6]

Flora and fauna edit

The ecosystem has Cyperus papyrus, floating grasses, miombo woodland,[7] and reeds that support large populations of crocodiles, fish, and water birds. Mammals include buffalo, Burchell's zebra, bushbuck, common tsessebe, elephants, hippopotamus, hyenas, jackals, oribi, reedbuck, roan and sable antelope, and sitatunga.[3][5][7][8] Bangweulu has the only remaining significant population of the black lechwe;[9] There were an estimated 36,600 reported in 2020.[5] Millions of straw-coloured fruit bats migrate to Bangweulu's Mushitu swamp forest in Kasanka National Park.[10] In 2016, African Parks partnered with Fondation Segré to relocate 600 animals, including hartebeest, impala, and puku, into the wetlands.[11] Cheetahs were reintroduced to the reserve in late 2020, almost a century after their absence.[12]

 
 
 
 
A variety of bird species live in Bangweulu, including the African openbill, banded martin, blue-breasted bee-eater, and wattled crane (displayed clockwise from top left), photographed in the wetlands in 2016

Bangweulu has been designated as an "Important Bird Area" by BirdLife International.[5] The wetlands are home to more than 400 bird species,[7] including cormorants, ducks, egrets, geese, herons, ibises, pygmy goose, and waders.[3] Most notable is the shoebill, a vulnerable species threatened by habitat burning for farming, competition with fisheries, wildlife trade, and other disturbances.[3][13] In May 2022, the Shoebill Captive Rearing and Rehabilitation Facility was established.[14] The facility cares for chicks then release them back to the region. Other species recorded in Bangweulu include the great white pelican, saddle-billed stork, African spoonbill, and wattled crane.[3][15]

Human–wildlife conflict edit

Bangweulu encompasses several villages, and an estimated 50,000–90,000 people depend on the wetlands, resulting in human–wildlife conflict.[3][16] The ecosystem is threatened by habitat burning for farming, overfishing, and poaching.[3] The increased use of mosquito nets for fishing has decreased fish populations in Bangweulu and throughout Zambia.[17] To combat these problems, African Parks developed several community programs and enterprise projects, including bee-keeping, sustainable fisheries management, and reproductive health education. As a result, poaching and other illegal activities have been largely contained, and fish stocks have managed to recover.

Conservation edit

In 2008, African Parks began managing Bangweulu with the establishment of the Bangweulu Wetland Management Board, which includes representation by African Parks, the Zambia Wildlife Authority, and six community members.[3] Funding was secured by African Parks and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Through this partnership, African Parks is responsible for all management and operations of Bangweulu, including law enforcement, community development, biodiversity conservation, infrastructure and economic development.[3] This public-private and community partnership is part of the Community Partnership Park concept created by the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environment Protection and Zambia Wildlife Authority's "Reclassification and Effective Management of National Protected Areas System" project.[5] According to UNDP, the project seeks to "improve the management of existing Protected Areas through law enforcement and to propose new protected area categories to ensure the community owns and manages the natural resources in a sustainable manner".[5]

Past partners supporting Bangweulu Wetlands include the Bangweulu Wetlands Management Board and Kasanka Trust; current major funders supporting Bangweuu include WWF-The Netherlands, WWF-Zambia, and the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife, according to African Parks.[3][18] The Working for Water Project's mission is to survey and protect Africa's major wetlands, including Bangweulu, the Niger and Okavango deltas, and Sudd and Zambezi.[3] The University of Cape Town's Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology has worked to create conservation plans for the shoebill.[3] African Parks and Fondation Segré's "Bangweulu Wetlands Wildlife Reintroduction Project" was initiated in 2016 and seeks to "recreate an ecologically viable protected area with the capacity to become sustainable".[11]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Bamgweulu Swamps". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  2. ^ McKey, Doyle B.; Durécu, Mélisse; Pouilly, Marc; Béarez, Philippe; Ovando, Alex; Kaleb, Mashuta; Huchzermeyer, Carl F. (27 December 2016). "Present-day African analogue of a pre-European Amazonian floodplain fishery shows convergence in cultural niche construction". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 113 (52): 14, 938–14, 943. doi:10.1073/pnas.1613169114. OCLC 43473694. PMC 5206554. PMID 27980030.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Boyes, Steve (7 December 2012). "Working for Water: The Bangweulu Wetlands and Africa's Shoebill…". National Geographic. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  4. ^ Gray, William (2007). Zambia and Victoria Falls. New Holland Publishers. p. 91. ISBN 9781845378134. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e f . United Nations Development Programme. Archived from the original on 19 May 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Bangweulu Wetlands" (PDF). African Parks. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  7. ^ a b c Fitzpatrick, Mary; Grosberg, Michael; Holden, Trent; Morgan, Kate; Ray, Nick; Waters, Richard (1 June 2013). Lonely Planet Zambia, Mozambique & Malawi. Lonely Planet. p. 204. ISBN 9781743216453. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  8. ^ Chisha, Christine (23 October 2016). "Malama set to make a difference". Zambia Daily Mail. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  9. ^ Kamweneshe, Bernard Mwila (2002). Ecology, Conservation and Management of the Black Lechwe (Kobus Leche Smithemani) in the Bangweulu Basin, Zambia. University of Pretoria. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  10. ^ Weaver, Tony (11 November 2011). . Cape Times. Cape Town: Sekunjalo Investments. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Bangweulu Wetlands Wildlife Reintroduction Project". Fondation Segré. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Zambia Hails the Return of Cheetahs to one of Africa's Most Important Wetlands". www.africanparks.org. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  13. ^ Shoebill:
    • Mullers, Ralf H. E.; Amar, Arjun (March 2015). "Parental Nesting Behavior, Chick Growth and Breeding Success of Shoebills (Balaeniceps rex) in the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia". Waterbirds. 38 (1): 1–9. doi:10.1675/063.038.0102. S2CID 84828980.
    • Mullers, Ralf; Amar, Arjun (May 2015). "Shoebill Balaeniceps rex foraging behaviour in the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia". Ostrich. 86 (1–2): 113–118. doi:10.2989/00306525.2014.977364. S2CID 84194123. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Shoebill Conservation in Bangweulu - A Unique Solution for a Unique Bird". African Parks. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  15. ^ Kamweneshe, Bernard M. "Status of Ecology of Wattled Cranes in Bangweulu Basin, Zambia" (PDF). pp. 261–265. Retrieved 10 October 2017 – via International Crane Foundation.
  16. ^ McIntyre, Chris (5 July 2016). Zambia. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 336. ISBN 9781784770129. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  17. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey (24 January 2015). "Meant to Keep Malaria Out, Mosquito Nets Are Used to Haul Fish In". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Partners: Bangweulu". African Parks. Retrieved 11 October 2017.

Further reading edit

  • "Beautiful images of Bangweulu Wetlands". Africa Geographic. 2 December 2014 – via African Parks.
  • Huchzermeyer, C.F.; Huchzermeyer, K.D.A.; Christison, K.W.; Macey, B.M.; Colly, P.A.; Hang'ombe, B.M.; Songe, M.M. (26 July 2017). "First record of epizootic ulcerative syndrome from the Upper Congo catchment: An outbreak in the Bangweulu swamps, Zambia". Journal of Fish Diseases. 41 (1): 87–94. doi:10.1111/jfd.12680. hdl:10566/3118. OCLC 45254341. PMID 28745838 – via National Center for Biotechnology Information.

External links edit

External videos
  Video: Zambia's Bangweulu Wetlands, National Geographic Society

April 10, 2024
bangweulu, wetlands, wetland, ecosystem, adjacent, lake, bangweulu, north, eastern, zambia, area, been, designated, world, most, important, wetlands, ramsar, convention, important, bird, area, birdlife, international, african, parks, began, managing, bangweulu. The Bangweulu Wetlands is a wetland ecosystem adjacent to Lake Bangweulu in north eastern Zambia The area has been designated as one of the world s most important wetlands by the Ramsar Convention and an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International African Parks began managing Bangweulu in partnership with Zambia s Department of National Parks and Wildlife with the establishment of the Bangweulu Wetland Management Board in 2008 Bangweulu WetlandsBangweulu SwampsView of the wetlandsLocation of the Bangweulu Wetlands in ZambiaCoordinates11 36 S 30 05 E 11 600 S 30 083 E 11 600 30 083Area9 850 km2 3 800 sq mi Ramsar WetlandDesignated28 August 1991Reference no 531 1 Contents 1 Overview 2 Flora and fauna 2 1 Human wildlife conflict 3 Conservation 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksOverview editThe Bangweulu Wetlands ecosystem was first described in the 1940s 2 Bangweulu which means where the water meets the sky is located mostly within Zambia s Northern Province and recognized by the Ramsar Convention as one of the world s most important wetlands 3 The 9 850 square kilometre 3 800 sq mi 4 region has floodplains seasonally flooded grasslands woodlands 5 and permanent swamps fed by the Chambeshi Luapula Lukulu and Lulimala rivers 3 The nonprofit conservation organization African Parks manages a 6 000 square kilometre 2 300 sq mi area of the greater Bangweulu ecosystem 6 Flora and fauna editThe ecosystem has Cyperus papyrus floating grasses miombo woodland 7 and reeds that support large populations of crocodiles fish and water birds Mammals include buffalo Burchell s zebra bushbuck common tsessebe elephants hippopotamus hyenas jackals oribi reedbuck roan and sable antelope and sitatunga 3 5 7 8 Bangweulu has the only remaining significant population of the black lechwe 9 There were an estimated 36 600 reported in 2020 5 Millions of straw coloured fruit bats migrate to Bangweulu s Mushitu swamp forest in Kasanka National Park 10 In 2016 African Parks partnered with Fondation Segre to relocate 600 animals including hartebeest impala and puku into the wetlands 11 Cheetahs were reintroduced to the reserve in late 2020 almost a century after their absence 12 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp A variety of bird species live in Bangweulu including the African openbill banded martin blue breasted bee eater and wattled crane displayed clockwise from top left photographed in the wetlands in 2016 Bangweulu has been designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International 5 The wetlands are home to more than 400 bird species 7 including cormorants ducks egrets geese herons ibises pygmy goose and waders 3 Most notable is the shoebill a vulnerable species threatened by habitat burning for farming competition with fisheries wildlife trade and other disturbances 3 13 In May 2022 the Shoebill Captive Rearing and Rehabilitation Facility was established 14 The facility cares for chicks then release them back to the region Other species recorded in Bangweulu include the great white pelican saddle billed stork African spoonbill and wattled crane 3 15 Human wildlife conflict edit Bangweulu encompasses several villages and an estimated 50 000 90 000 people depend on the wetlands resulting in human wildlife conflict 3 16 The ecosystem is threatened by habitat burning for farming overfishing and poaching 3 The increased use of mosquito nets for fishing has decreased fish populations in Bangweulu and throughout Zambia 17 To combat these problems African Parks developed several community programs and enterprise projects including bee keeping sustainable fisheries management and reproductive health education As a result poaching and other illegal activities have been largely contained and fish stocks have managed to recover Conservation editIn 2008 African Parks began managing Bangweulu with the establishment of the Bangweulu Wetland Management Board which includes representation by African Parks the Zambia Wildlife Authority and six community members 3 Funding was secured by African Parks and the United Nations Development Programme UNDP Through this partnership African Parks is responsible for all management and operations of Bangweulu including law enforcement community development biodiversity conservation infrastructure and economic development 3 This public private and community partnership is part of the Community Partnership Park concept created by the Ministry of Lands Natural Resources and Environment Protection and Zambia Wildlife Authority s Reclassification and Effective Management of National Protected Areas System project 5 According to UNDP the project seeks to improve the management of existing Protected Areas through law enforcement and to propose new protected area categories to ensure the community owns and manages the natural resources in a sustainable manner 5 Past partners supporting Bangweulu Wetlands include the Bangweulu Wetlands Management Board and Kasanka Trust current major funders supporting Bangweuu include WWF The Netherlands WWF Zambia and the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife according to African Parks 3 18 The Working for Water Project s mission is to survey and protect Africa s major wetlands including Bangweulu the Niger and Okavango deltas and Sudd and Zambezi 3 The University of Cape Town s Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology has worked to create conservation plans for the shoebill 3 African Parks and Fondation Segre s Bangweulu Wetlands Wildlife Reintroduction Project was initiated in 2016 and seeks to recreate an ecologically viable protected area with the capacity to become sustainable 11 See also editWildlife of ZambiaReferences edit Bamgweulu Swamps Ramsar Sites Information Service Retrieved 10 January 2024 McKey Doyle B Durecu Melisse Pouilly Marc Bearez Philippe Ovando Alex Kaleb Mashuta Huchzermeyer Carl F 27 December 2016 Present day African analogue of a pre European Amazonian floodplain fishery shows convergence in cultural niche construction Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 113 52 14 938 14 943 doi 10 1073 pnas 1613169114 OCLC 43473694 PMC 5206554 PMID 27980030 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Boyes Steve 7 December 2012 Working for Water The Bangweulu Wetlands and Africa s Shoebill National Geographic Retrieved 10 October 2017 Gray William 2007 Zambia and Victoria Falls New Holland Publishers p 91 ISBN 9781845378134 Retrieved 10 October 2017 a b c d e f Bangweulu Wetlands Where the water meets the sky United Nations Development Programme Archived from the original on 19 May 2019 Retrieved 10 October 2017 Bangweulu Wetlands PDF African Parks Retrieved 4 December 2017 a b c Fitzpatrick Mary Grosberg Michael Holden Trent Morgan Kate Ray Nick Waters Richard 1 June 2013 Lonely Planet Zambia Mozambique amp Malawi Lonely Planet p 204 ISBN 9781743216453 Retrieved 10 October 2017 Chisha Christine 23 October 2016 Malama set to make a difference Zambia Daily Mail Retrieved 11 October 2017 Kamweneshe Bernard Mwila 2002 Ecology Conservation and Management of the Black Lechwe Kobus Leche Smithemani in the Bangweulu Basin Zambia University of Pretoria Retrieved 11 October 2017 Weaver Tony 11 November 2011 Eight Million New Wonders of the World Cape Times Cape Town Sekunjalo Investments Archived from the original on 3 April 2018 Retrieved 11 October 2017 a b Bangweulu Wetlands Wildlife Reintroduction Project Fondation Segre Retrieved 10 October 2017 Zambia Hails the Return of Cheetahs to one of Africa s Most Important Wetlands www africanparks org Retrieved 2023 05 23 Shoebill Mullers Ralf H E Amar Arjun March 2015 Parental Nesting Behavior Chick Growth and Breeding Success of Shoebills Balaeniceps rex in the Bangweulu Wetlands Zambia Waterbirds 38 1 1 9 doi 10 1675 063 038 0102 S2CID 84828980 Mullers Ralf Amar Arjun May 2015 Shoebill Balaeniceps rex foraging behaviour in the Bangweulu Wetlands Zambia Ostrich 86 1 2 113 118 doi 10 2989 00306525 2014 977364 S2CID 84194123 Retrieved 10 October 2015 Shoebill Conservation in Bangweulu A Unique Solution for a Unique Bird African Parks Retrieved 20 February 2024 Kamweneshe Bernard M Status of Ecology of Wattled Cranes in Bangweulu Basin Zambia PDF pp 261 265 Retrieved 10 October 2017 via International Crane Foundation McIntyre Chris 5 July 2016 Zambia Bradt Travel Guides p 336 ISBN 9781784770129 Retrieved 11 October 2017 Gettleman Jeffrey 24 January 2015 Meant to Keep Malaria Out Mosquito Nets Are Used to Haul Fish In The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 OCLC 1645522 Retrieved 11 October 2017 Partners Bangweulu African Parks Retrieved 11 October 2017 Further reading edit Beautiful images of Bangweulu Wetlands Africa Geographic 2 December 2014 via African Parks Huchzermeyer C F Huchzermeyer K D A Christison K W Macey B M Colly P A Hang ombe B M Songe M M 26 July 2017 First record of epizootic ulcerative syndrome from the Upper Congo catchment An outbreak in the Bangweulu swamps Zambia Journal of Fish Diseases 41 1 87 94 doi 10 1111 jfd 12680 hdl 10566 3118 OCLC 45254341 PMID 28745838 via National Center for Biotechnology Information External links editExternal videos nbsp Video Zambia s Bangweulu Wetlands National Geographic Society Bangweulu Wetlands African Parks Bangweulu Wetlands Lonely Planet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bangweulu Wetlands amp oldid 1209155825, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.