Lukanga Swamp

• Category: Inland Aquatic Biomes.
• Geographic Location: Africa.
• Summary: This Ramsar-recognized wetland supports diverse habitats and is home to over 300 bird species. Overfishing, poaching, deforestation, and water pollution have endangered its sustainability.

The Lukanga Swamp biome is a wetland located in the Central Province of Zambia. It is the largest permanent water body in the Kafue Basin, comprising generally shallow swamps that allow light penetration to the bottom, permitting high photosynthetic activity. While the permanent swampy area remains largely inaccessible, human encroachment within the surrounding floodplain has had significant environmental impacts, most notably deforestation, land erosion, deteriorating water quality, and species population reductions—all of these caused by or related to fishing, hunting, poaching, and logging for charcoal production. Poverty, limited resources, and lack of legislative enforcement have limited preservation efforts.

Geography and Climate

The permanently swampy area encompasses approximately 710 square miles (1,850 square kilometers), covering an area that is somewhat circular, with a diameter of about 30 miles (50 kilometers). It has an elevation of approximately 3,690 feet (1,125 meters) above sea level. The average depth is shallow, at about 5 feet (1.5 meters). Numerous rivers and streams discharge into the Swamp, most notably the Lukanga River and the Kafue River. Lagoons, such as Lake Chiposhye and Lake Suye; pools; reed beds; papyrus islands; and channels dot the area. Pockets of higher ground form permanently dry islands within the swamp area and its environs, such as the Chilwa and Chiposha Islands.

The nearest urban areas include Mumbwa and Kabwe. The larger floodplain surrounding the permanent swamp falls within the Zambezian Flooded Grasslands ecoregion. It is inundated on an annual seasonal basis, and can increase the Lukanga Swamp’s area to 2,300–3,100 square miles (6,000–8,000 square kilometers) during the rainy season. Areas of woodland savanna also surround the swamp.

Flora and Fauna

The Lukanga Swamp and its environs provide diverse grazing and aquatic habitats that support an array of plant and animal life, and host a number of threatened species, such as the wattled crane (Bugeranus carunculatus), the red lechwe, African python, and the sitatunga, an antelope adapted to walking and swimming in marshy environments.

A number of different plant species are found in the swamp. The common reed (Phragmites spp.) covers much of the swamp. Water lilies (Nymphaea spp), an aquatic plant belonging to the family Nymphaeaceae, can be found between the lakes. In the deeper waters of the swamp, it is common to find cattails (Typha spp.) Native hippo grass (Vossia cuspidata) is the third largest plant community in the swamp's confines and occupies areas along the many rivers that feed into the swamp.

The area is also an important breeding ground for fish, the most abundant of which is tilapia, with T. rendalli and T. sparmani the predominant species. Resident and visiting animals include the hippopotamus, crocodile, elephant, buffalo, roan antelope, oribi, marsh mongoose, bushbuck, python, and eland.

Over 300 species of resident and migratory birds are known to inhabit the Lukanga Swamp. Notable bird species include the coppery-tailed coucal (Centropuscupreicaudus), pallid harrier (Circus macrourus), Dickinson’s kestrel (Falco dickinsoni), brown firefinch (Lagonosticta nitidula), white-bellied sunbird (Nectarinia talatala), Hartlaub’s babbler (Turoideshartlaubii), kurrichane thrush (Turdus libonyanus), and broad-tailed paradise whydah (Vidua obtusa).

Human Impact

Human habitation has encroached upon most of the Lukanga Swamp’s borders, with the exception of the swamp’s largely pristine western portion. Approximately 60,000 people reside within the swamp’s environs, along the floodplain’s edges, and on the swamp’s permanently dry islands. Other temporary residents inhabit fishing camps within the islands.

There are no roads or bridges offering access into the permanently swampy areas. Several seasonal dirt tracks offer access to the surrounding floodplain. The Great North Road crosses the country near the floodplain, but does not offer direct access to it.

Human uses of the swamp include fishing, hunting wildfowl, and gathering natural resources such as reeds, which are used for construction and basketry. Slash-and-burn methods and other forms of agriculture are practiced along the outskirts of the swamp. Large parts of the swamp forests have been cleared for charcoal production and agricultural use, resulting in soil degradation. Ecological consequences include subsequent land erosion, water turbidity, silt suspension and poor water quality. Human consequences include threats to food security. Fishing is a significant form of both food and income in a country marked by significant and chronic poverty. Most fishing is done using traditional methods, with only a small presence of larger commercial fishing operations.

The swamp’s fish populations have suffered from overfishing; the use of harmful fishing methods; water pollution; and global warming, which has put pressure on temperature-sensitive species directly and through alterations to their floral habitats. Results include the diminishment of fish stocks and the diminishing size and quality of remaining fish.

Since 2006, seasonal outbreaks of the deadly fungal disease known as epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) during the rainy season have begun to decimate the country’s fish populations, especially along the nearby Zambezi River. Researchers have identified the pathogens causing the infection, which is quite contagious and has been found in fresh and brackish water around the globe.

Of ongoing concern is global climate change and the threat it poses. The wetlands often experience intense heatwaves, and there are increasing incidences of flooding and drought in the area.

Conservation

Regional, national, and international environmental preservationists have recognized the need to prevent further environmental destruction. The Lukanga Swamp is one of eight Zambian sites recognized by the Ramsar Convention, an international agreement dedicated to the preservation of globally significant wetlands regions. Key species targeted for conservation include the lechwe, marsh mongoose, sitatunga, python, bushbuck, and oribi. Nearby protected areas include the Miombo Woodland game management area. There has been some discussion of extending habitat and species protection with the Lukanga Swamp.

Although some steps have been taken to protect the Lukanga Swamp and its environs, a lack of adequate knowledge and coordination among governmental and wildlife authorities, such as the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), and limited governmental resources present significant barriers to ongoing environmental protection. Animal poaching and overfishing remain significant problems, as existing legislation is not adequately enforced. Poverty and the push for economic development are key factors in determining the Swamp’s future ecological health. In 2022, Zambia launched a new four-year ecosystem-based adaptation project that includes wetland restoration efforts. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme.

Some government officials have targeted improved access to the region and the development of an ecotourism industry as potential future sources of economic growth. Tourism often has mixed environmental consequences, promoting habitat and wildlife conservation to maintain interest in the area, while at the same time, increasing some of the negative environmental impacts of human presence.

Bibliography

Bellani, Giovanni G. Vanishing Wilderness of Africa. Vercelli, Italy: Whitestar, 2008.

Dugan, Patrick. Guide to Wetlands. Buffalo, NY: Firefly, 2005.

McCartney, Matthew, Lisa-Maria Rebelo, Everisto Mapedza, Sanjiv de Silva, and C. Max Finlayson. “The Lukanga Swamps: Use, Conflicts, and Management.” Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy 14, nos. 3–4 (2011).

Stone, Roger D. The Nature of Development: A Recent Report From the Rural Tropics on the Quest for Sustainable Economic Growth. New York: Knopf, 1992.

Troni, Jessica. "The Race to Save Zambia's Wetlands." United Nations Environment Programme, 30 Mar. 2022, www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/race-save-zambias-wetlands. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.