Question

explain with examples in Zambia the different threats of land . in 2pages

Answer 1

Zambia’s biodiversity challenges and threats

Zambia’s biodiversity faces a number of challenges and threats. Wildlife faces the challenge of illegal wildlife trade and poaching. The forests face a challenge of deforestation as a result of land use such as agriculture and human settlements. Forests are also threatened by charcoal burning (by rural people) which is a source of energy for the poor people in urban areas who cannot afford electricity.

Zambia is also highly endowed with abundant water resources from rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Biodiversity in freshwater bodies face threats such as pollution, poor fishing methods, and overfishing.

The Zambezi river basin, which covers eight (8) riparian states in Southern Africa (Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania), is a major source of fresh water for the entire region. The greatest challenges are the various competing demands for water usage ranging from energy generation, abstraction for crop irrigation purposes as well as domestic and industrial uses.

Zambia recently discovered uranium deposits in the northwestern part of the country in the upper Zambezi river basin and mining is currently underway. Recognizing that uranium is a highly radioactive material and Zambia being a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is incumbent upon the Zambian government to ensure that there is maximum protection at all times. The greatest threat is the contamination of the Zambezi river basin, home to about 65 million people.

WWF Zambia has been working to address various threats and other challenges facing biodiversity conservation in Zambia for the benefit of humanity and the environment. With support from various cooperating and implementing partners, WWF Zambia has several programs across the country aimed at conserving Zambia’s biodiversity.

Mining and spoiled land in Zambia: An example of conflicting land use in the third world

The mining of copper and other metals to a lesser extent is the mainstay of the Zambian economy. Copper is mined in the Copperbelt situated in the northern part of the country. It is not only the most thickly populated part of the country but also the most urbanized. Urban centers developed with the mines as their nuclei and hence pose spatial problems between the needs of a rapidly increasing population on the one hand and the requirements of the mining industry on the other. The provision of raw material for the extractive industries is a geological one. Economic history shows the realization of these potentials and thirdly, lack of planning has permitted exploitation of minerals and dumping of wastes without much regard to reclamation. Spoilation of land by mining activity is mainly caused by the methods of the mining as well as by the dumping of the solid and liquid wastes from the ore crushers and concentrators; while air pollution from sulfur dioxide and dust is from the smelters. Legislation has recently been enacted to regulate the dumping of wastes and for the reclamation of waste dumps. However, this has had only a minimal effect on the problem as yet. The soil from a dump that is ready for reclamation is analyzed and methods of revegetating such a dump based on ecological principles are attempted. Finally, the conflict for land between the needs of a growing urban population and the requirements of the mining industry is discussed taking Kitwe, the capital of the Copperbelt as an example.