The Barotse floodplain: it's importance threats and solutions.

Africa Climate Conversations.

Did you know that the Barotse floodplain, located in the upper Zambezi basin in Zambia’s western province, has over 339 bird species and over 129 documented fish species? When flooded, it can reach over 550 000 hectares, acting as a sponge that slowly releases water to the nearby regions that receive low rainfall. It's key for supplying water to downstream communities, and the Kariba dam relied upon by Zambia and Zimbabwe for hydroelectric energy. But, due to high temperatures in the area, the Barotse loses approximately 1,500mm of water per year through evaporation, affecting the water available along the Zambezi River system. This week, Dr. Machaya Chomba, the Upper Zambezi Program Manager at the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature Zambia, talks about its importance, major threats, and sustainable conservation solutions.