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') at the site:
Species Red List1 Season Year(s) Size IBA criteria
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

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2001) may differ.


IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2001. The most recent assessment (2005) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2005 unfavourable medium low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat good

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Shrubland moderate (70-90%) moderate (70-90%) unfavourable
Grassland good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Biological resource use likely in short term (within 4 years) some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration low
Natural system modifications 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 areas Management plan Other action Result
Some of site covered (10-49%) Unknown Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
- Forest Reserve Name Unknown (ZMB) No.73 Forest Reserve <1
1971 West Zambezi Game Management Area 33
1973 Ngomangulu Forest Reserve <1
1973 Kangwe FoR* Forest Reserve <1
1973 Lutengwe Forest Reserve -
1974 Kalamba Forest Reserve <1

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Shrubland 46
Grassland 40
Forest 12
1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use

Land use % of IBA
agriculture -
hunting -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barotse Floodplains (Zambia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/barotse-floodplains-iba-zambia on 22/11/2024.