Zambezian flooded grasslands
Zambezian flooded grasslands | |
---|---|
Afrotropical | |
Biome | Flooded grasslands and savannas |
Geography | |
Area | 153,600 km2 (59,300 sq mi) |
Countries | Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | relatively stable/intact |
The Zambezian flooded grasslands is an ecoregion of southern and eastern Africa that is rich in wildlife.
Setting
The Zambezian
Large enclaves of flooded grassland include:
- Kilombero Valley and Mkata Plain in southern Tanzania
- Malagarasi-Muyovozi floodplain and Ugalla River floodplain in western Tanzania
- Wembere River-Lake Kitangiri floodplain in Tanzania
- The Okavango Delta in Botswana
- around Lake Chilwa in Malawi
- The Barotse Floodplain, Kafue Flats, Busanga Swamp, and Lukanga Swamp in the Zambezi basin of Zambia.
- The upper in Zambia.
The region has a tropical climate with a hot wet summer between November and March.
Flora
These patches of wetland contain grassland and swamp vegetation which varies from area to area within this widely spread ecoregion.
Fauna
Even during the dry season, the floodplains sustain a great deal of wildlife including grazing
The large numbers of birds, especially waterbirds, in the floodplains include
Threats and preservation
Despite the
Protected areas include the Okavango Delta, the Bangweulu, Moyowosi and Kilombero swamps and the Kafue Flats and in addition Lake Chilwa is a Ramsar birding area. Of these Okavango is the largest and best-known, being mostly within the Moremi Game Reserve, having spectacular wildlife and a well-developed safari industry based in the town of Maun. In Zambia Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon National Parks are protected.
References and external links
- "Zambezian flooded savannas". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.