Zambezi River Basin

Malawi’s aquatic resources of over 1 000 fish species, which make up almost 15 per cent of global freshwater fish biodiversity, are under threat from water pollution and overfishing. Lake Malawi contains more unique fish species than any other lake in the world, and more than 90 per cent are endemic (CBD 2007), mainly from the family Cichlidae. The Shire River basin also has high species richness. There are 117 species in Lake Malawi assessed as vulnerable due to highly restricted distribution, in some cases these species may be restricted to a section of rocky shore of less than a few hundred metres in length. Such species are assessed as vulnerable due to risks that may eliminate entire populations given their highly restricted ranges (IUCN 2011). Malawi is also rich in biodiversity of birdlife, and the major wildlife groups of mammals, reptiles and amphibians are represented, but the number of threatened species recorded almost doubled between 1996 and 2003, to 41 (IUCN 2006). Access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation by 2015 According to the Malawi Development Goals Report 2009, the country has already surpassed the MDGs targets for access to clean water and improved sanitation, and is well on its way to achieving 100 per cent for the latter (Figures 4.20 and 4.21).

Percent Proportion of populationwith access to improved sanitation facilities inMalawi

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

2000 2002

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

MDG Target Current Path Linearly Projected Value

Source: Government of Malawi 2009

Figure 4.21

Improve the lives of slum dwellers by 2020 The slum population as a proportion of total urban population in Malawi has been reduced by almost 30 per cent since 1990, from 94.6 per cent to 66.4 per cent, and is projected to reach 64.57 per cent by 2015, according to UN- Habitat (2010) as shown in Figure 4.22.

Urban dwellers living in slum conditions in Malawi

Percent

100

Percentage Households with sustainable access to improved water source in Malawi

90

80

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

70

60

50

1990

2000

2005

2010

2015

Current Path Linearly Projected Value

Source: Government of Malawi 2009

Figure 4.22

1990 1995

2000

2005

2010 2015

Malawi remains committed to achieving what it calls the Malawi Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 through implementation of a national development plan called the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS). The first Strategy covered the period 2006 to 2011, and a successor MGDS was being designed to replace it (Government of Malawi 2009).

MDG Target Current Path Linearly Projected Value Source: Government of Malawi 2009

Figure 4.20

90