Sustainable Luangwa: Securing Luangwa’s water resources for shared socioeconomic and environmental benefits through integrated catchment management

The project targets the Luangwa Upper Sub-catchment in Mafinga District, Zambia, to secure the river's source and maintain water flow and quality. It addresses threats from shifting agriculture (chitemene), unsustainable wood collection, and forest fires. The strategy involves improving the management of the Mafinga Hills National Forest Reserve, establishing the first Water Resource Protection Area (WRPA) in Zambia, and promoting climate-resilient conservation agriculture and community forestry. The project is funded by the GEF with a total cost of US$ 24,738,355, including significant co-financing.

• The Luangwa River is one of Zambia's four major rivers and remains "one of the last major free-flowing rivers in Zambia" and "one of the largest unaltered river systems in southern Africa".
• The project area in the Luangwa headwaters is threatened by shifting agriculture, specifically the "chitemene" practice, which involves clearing large areas through burning and exacerbates soil erosion in the hilly terrain of Mafinga.
• The Mafinga Hills National Forest Reserve (NFR) currently suffers from low management effectiveness, with a baseline METT score of 26, characterized by a lack of transportation, equipment, and a current staff of only one Forestry Department member for the district.
• The project aims to establish Zambia's first Water Resource Protection Area (WRPA) in the Luangwa headwaters, with a provisional estimate of approximately 25,000 ha under this new protective status.
• The project targets the restoration of 900 ha of forested land, split between 300 ha inside the Mafinga Hills NFR and 600 ha outside the NFR through assisted natural regeneration.
• To reduce pressure on the NFR, the project will support the implementation of sustainable land management practices over 40,000 ha of the Luangwa headwaters, focusing on conservation agriculture and community forestry.
• The project identifies high climate change vulnerability in Mafinga District, driven by "significant rainfall variability, prevalent drought conditions, high flood risks, low soil moisture, steep slopes" and poor infrastructure.
• Gender inequalities are prevalent in the project area, where customary land tenure is patrilineal and property is "inherited by the male lineage", often marginalizing women from decision-making and land ownership.
• The project's total cost is US$ 24,738,355, consisting of a GEF grant of US$ 2,889,155 and co-financing amounting to US$ 21,849,200.
• The project will directly benefit approximately 2,500 community members (with a target of 50% women) and 100 government staff.

APA

WWF International (2021). Sustainable Luangwa: Securing Luangwa’s water resources for shared socioeconomic and environmental benefits through integrated catchment management. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1005/4ajdo0u7zp_10412_WWF_GEF_Project_Document_Sustainable_Luangwa.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Sustainable Luangwa: Securing Luangwa’s water resources for shared socioeconomic and environmental benefits through integrated catchment management. 2021. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1005/4ajdo0u7zp_10412_WWF_GEF_Project_Document_Sustainable_Luangwa.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Sustainable Luangwa: Securing Luangwa’s water resources for shared socioeconomic and environmental benefits through integrated catchment management |date=6 October 2021 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1005/4ajdo0u7zp_10412_WWF_GEF_Project_Document_Sustainable_Luangwa.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2021sustainable, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Sustainable Luangwa: Securing Luangwa’s water resources for shared socioeconomic and environmental benefits through integrated catchment management}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1005/4ajdo0u7zp_10412_WWF_GEF_Project_Document_Sustainable_Luangwa.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }