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The Zambezi river is the fourth longest in Africa, crossing or bordering Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The river basin is widely recognised as one of the most important basins in southern Africa and is the focus of contested development, including water for hydropower and for agriculture and the environment. This book provides a thorough review of water and sustainable development in the Zambezi, in order to identify critical issues and propose constructive ways forward. The book first reviews the availability and use of water resources in the basin, outlines the basin’s economic potential and highlights key concerns related to climate vulnerability and risk. Focus is then devoted to hydropower and the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus, sustainable agricultural water management, and threats and opportunities related to provision of ecosystem services. The impact of urbanisation and water quality is also examined, as well as ways to enhance transboundary water cooperation. Last, the book assesses the level of water security in the basin, and provides suggestions for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. Throughout, emphasis is placed on entry points for basin-level management to foster improved paths forward.
This book provides an analysis of the ecological conditions and ecosystem goods and services of the Zambezi River Basin (ZRB), the fourth largest river in Africa. Various environmental and anthropogenic factors; inclusive of climate, environmental flows, hydrology, morphology, pollution and land use changes among others and their interactions are considered as drivers of the river ecosystems. The impacts of these drivers on aquatic biota, river ecological integrity, and the livelihoods of surrounding communities are analysed within the socio-economic-policy context. The book goes beyond the usual inventories and basic research by using the comparative research method (CRM) in a trans-disciplinary manner. This CRM analytical approach in this book seeks to interrogate the differences or similarities in socio-economic systems, livelihoods, ecological systems, ecosystem goods and services, their usage and management under the seemingly different cultural, socio-economic conditions expected across boarders that are within the ZRB. The multidisciplinary approach also connects the typical ecological research with social dimensions in a holistic manner. The book therefore, provides empirical and research based evidence to support strategic planning and policy development in the wake of ecological changes that nations and indeed regions such as the ZRB are grappling with while seeking to sustainably manage precious river systems.
The Middle Zambezi, host to a rich biodiversity, is located in the central part of the Zambezi River Basin which covers eight Southern African Countries. The area is located downstream of three hydropower schemes. In the last decades, the floodplain riparian tree, the Faidherbia albida, vital for the local wild life, has shown a worrying decrease in its regeneration rates. This thesis explores establishing the environmental flow regime for the Middle Zambezi reach in order to minimise the impact of the upstream hydropower schemes on the river environment, using the Faidherbia albida tree as a biological indicator. The research identified that the current dam operations have completely altered the natural hydrological rhythm from pre-Kariba dam dry season flows of 100-200 m3/s increasing to 1,000-1,500 m3/s. The sudden closure of the dam floodgates can be linked to the observed river channel-widening phenomenon. In addition, the Faidherbia albida tree now experiences longer flood residence over the floodplain, making it inaccessible to animals to allow for regeneration. In order to save the F. albida tree, a two-pronged environmental flow regime is proposed of releasing a moderate flood of 5,800 m3/s once in 5 years, for 5 to 6 weeks in the months of February to March, and phasing the spillway gates closure over a period of 3 to 4 weeks to keep the floodplain wet enough until the months of May and June. Phasing of the spillway gate closure would also mitigate the excessive bank erosion.
An anthology of aquatic plants is an excellent collection of knowledge about anything in fresh, marine, or polluted waters. This pictorial guide deals with aquatic and wetland plants from the Okavango to the transboundary rivers to the rainwater ponds and dams. Organized and written in a way that will make information easily accessible to specialists and non-specialists alike. The guide/book highlights the diversity and vital ecological importance of the group of plants, providing descriptions and identification keys for emergent, floating-leaved, and submerged aquatic plants found in Botswana. They serve as a source of food and shelter for the aquatic fauna, thus forming the basis of aquatic wildlife conservation practices. They are economically useful in providing medicinal and aesthetic value. Aquatic plants prevent and maintain erosion, water turbidity, and the source of oxygen in the water. Information on invasive plants, such as Kariba/salvinia weed, water lettuce, and water hyacinth that threaten Botswana's aquatic ecosystems, is briefly described. In total, 194 plant species are presented in the guide. All technical terms are explained in a comprehensive glossary. This is the first such flora to cover aquatic and wetland plants for the entire geographical area, excluding grasses and sedges. It will suit a large age range, from little ones who want to look at the pictures to primary school children. If you have an explorer's spirit and a thirst for finding something new, then aquatic life will never disappoint. The physical book itself is stunning, with a handsome cover with common water lily that makes it pretty enough to sit on the coffee table but entertaining enough to keep kids glued to the pages. When the two characters from a different native, who rose in the same city of Aizawl, meet and fall in love during PUC, his jealous gay friend circles a rumor and tries to interfere in their affairs. Her love sadly feels unrequited due to his shy and reclusive nature followed by some tragic incidents that make all her attempts go in vain. She also doesn’t understand his gesture of acceptance and things remain in a state of oblivion for a long time. Her sedulousness doesn’t allow giving up on him even after they part ways to pursue their higher studies. But her naiveness again fails her in catching his clues before he turns into a severe hophead after his mother’s demise. A lot changes in their lives by the time he comes close to expressing his hidden love for her and is about to propose for marriage. Despite both being settled in the South, every time some divine energy would stop them from meeting in one place. Unease in his mind, he starts revealing his feelings and relevant secrets after his marriage and comes to a point when she learns how life had been unkind to both of them and they begin expressing their regrets. It is a tragic love story that starts with love and ends with friendship. After reading the book, you might wonder whether they will remain just as incomplete stories that are waiting to be completed like how they called themselves.
Concerns about perceived loss of indigenous materials emerged from multiple stakeholders during consultations to plan and design the CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems for the Borotse hub in Zambia’s Western Province. To come to grips with and address the concerns, the AAS Borotse hub program of work included an assessment of agrobiodiversity to inform community-level and program initiatives and actions. The agrobiodiversity assessment comprised three components: key informant and expert surveys complemented by review of grey and published literature, focus group discussions in the communities, and individual household surveys. This working paper reports the findings from assessments of agrobiodiversity resources in the Borotse hub by key informants and local experts working in government ministries, departments and agencies, and non-governmental organizations operating in the communities. This working paper covers the following topics: agriculture in the Borotse flood plain; major agricultural land types in the Borotse flood plain; soils and their uses; production systems; crops, including the seed sector and ex-situ resources; indigenous materials collected from the wild, including non-perennial and perennial plants, aquatic plants, and forest biodiversity; fish resources, including both capture fisheries and aquaculture; livestock resources; dietary diversity; and indigenous and local knowledge on management systems.