ZM009
Barotse Floodplains


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2001 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis LC non-breeding - 3,750 individuals A4i
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus VU non-breeding - 145 individuals A1, A4i
African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus LC non-breeding - 1,000 individuals A4i
African Spoonbill Platalea alba LC non-breeding - 150 individuals A4i
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis LC non-breeding - 10,000 individuals A4i
Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula VU non-breeding - present A1
Long-tailed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus LC non-breeding - 5,000 individuals A4i
Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius LC non-breeding - 1,000 individuals A4i
Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus LC winter - 200 individuals A4i
Ruff Calidris pugnax LC winter - 20,000 individuals A4i
African Snipe Gallinago nigripennis LC non-breeding - 500 individuals A4i
Great Snipe Gallinago media NT winter - 300 individuals A1, A4i
African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris LC non-breeding - 100 individuals A1, A4i
Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus LC non-breeding - 1,000 individuals A4i
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida LC non-breeding - 150 individuals A4i
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus LC winter - 2,000 individuals A4i
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus NT winter - present A1
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni LC winter - present A1

The current IUCN Red List category (shown above) may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2001).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2005 unfavourable medium low
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat good

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Grassland 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable
Shrubland 0 0 moderate (70-90%) moderate (70-90%) unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification annual & perennial non-timber crops - small-holder farming past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration low
Agricultural expansion and intensification livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration low
Biological resource use fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target) likely in short term (within 4 years) some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Natural system modifications fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Some of site covered (10-49%) Unknown Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
West Zambezi Game Management Area 3,807,000 protected area overlaps with site 240,000
Watembo Forest Reserve 8,670 protected area is adjacent to site 0
Ngomangulu Forest Reserve 2,542 protected area contained by site 0
Lutengwe Forest Reserve 191 protected area overlaps with site 0
Liuwa Plain National Park 366,000 protected area is adjacent to site 0
Kangwe FoR* Forest Reserve 3,513 protected area overlaps with site 0
Kalamba Forest Reserve 680 protected area overlaps with site 0
Forest Reserve Name Unknown (ZMB) No.73 Forest Reserve 169 protected area overlaps with site 0

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Shrubland -
Grassland -
Forest -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
hunting -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barotse Floodplains. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/barotse-floodplains-iba-zambia on 19/03/2024.