Miombo Ecoregion Vision Report - Biodiversity Foundation for Africa

Miombo Ecoregion Report, page 50
cheetah, wild dog). There are about 160,000 elephant in the area, about a quarter of Africa's total
elephant population. Species present of restricted distribution include sitatunga, puku and Red
lechwe antelope. Endangered species include black rhino and wild dog. There are significant
movements of megafauna across international borders, particularly between the Hwange/Matetsi
complex and Chobe where 10 corridors have been identified (for elephant, hippo, buffalo, zebra,
wildebeest). There is a suggestion that elephant movement between the Four Corners and Kafue
National Park should be restored. The high bird species diversity (over 500, including 63 raptor
species), includes significant populations of Ostrich and Kori Bustard. The total world population
of Black-cheeked Lovebird is found in the area close to Kafue National Park. Palaearctic
migrants are common, particularly on seasonal pans. Two areas of high herp diversity are
incorporated with over 81 species of reptile and 30 amphibians, including species typical of the
Kalahari. The area forms part of the upper Zambezi system with a high fish species diversity.
There is one endemic fish (Nothobranchius sp.) in pans in the East Caprivi. The area along the
Zambezi below Kazungula is rich in both Odonata and Lepidoptera with at least two endemics.
The four corners incorporates a number of protected areas – Chobe, Hwange, Zambezi, Matetsi,
Kazuma Pan, Sioma-Ngwezi and Mamili. A trans-frontier conservation agreement is being put in
place, and the area has high tourism potential, particularly for conservation business ventures.
Economically, tourism is particularly important, with major centres in Victoria Falls/Livingstone,
Hwange National Park and Chobe. Major threats are plans for water extraction from the Zambezi
(although this is most likely to occur further downstream), regional security issues (in Angola
and the Caprivi Strip), and conflicting land uses. This includes problem animal control in some
areas, and conflicts in communal lands in Zimbabwe and the East Caprivi. There are, however,
numerous CBNRN projects in Zimbabwe, East Caprivi and northern Botswana. Poaching is
problematic in places. Timber extraction was a major industry in the past, and unsustainable
logging for Pterocarpus angolensis and Baikiaea plurijuga, particularly in Zambia, is a major
concern.
6. MID-ZAMBEZI VALLEY
A low-lying area along the Zambezi river from the upper end of Lake Kariba to the Cabora Bassa
dam wall, encompassing the Zimbabwe/Zambia border and part of northwest Mozambique. The
area includes the Zambezi escarpment and part of the plateau to the north of lakes Kariba and
Cabora Bassa. Most of the vegetation is mopane woodland, with dry miombo on the escarpment
and riverine woodland on alluvium along larger rivers. The area includes important patches of
the regionally-threatened Combretum–Xylia torreana dry forest/thicket, and some significant
pans.
There are probably 1500–2000 plant species, including 8–10 endemics, reflecting the wide range
of habitats. The mammal fauna is relatively intact with a very diverse large mammal fauna,
including predators (lion, cheetah, leopard), major populations of elephant (17,000+), hippo
(2000+) and buffalo, and a small concentration of black rhino. Significant local movements of
elephant occur. Over 400 bird species have been recorded, including important breeding
populations of Carmine Bee-eater, Rock Pratincole, Lilian's Lovebird and African Skimmer.
There are two Important Bird Areas (IBA) – the Mavuradonha mountains IBA containing a
significant number of biome-restricted species, and the Mid-Zambezi Valley IBA with over 1%
of the global population of Rock Pratincole, African Skimmer and Carmine Bee-eater. The
Angolan Pitta is locally common in thickets. Lake Cabora Bassa appears to be an important overwintering
site for some migratory species. There is some altitudinal movement of birds up and
down the escarpment. The Zambezi River, lakes Cabora Bassa and Kariba are important breeding
areas for the Nile crocodile.