Zambezi River Basin

Preface

in sustainable development by emphasizing the ills of deforestation, land degradation and loss of biodiversity, among others, while also showcasing the benefits of sustainable conservation. For example, the Atlas acknowledges the importance of wildlife corridors as provided by trans-frontier conservation areas in allowing the free movement of wildlife as they search for pasture and water. The Atlas also acknowledges the important role the Zambezi River Basin plays in the integration of the SADC region by being the backbone of hydro-power generation. By visually presenting an in-depth assessment of the scale of change in the state of the environment in the basin, the Zambezi River Basin Atlas of the Changing Environment not only supports policy-making, but also opens up new opportunities for collaborative research. The preparation of the Atlas demonstrates the value of partnerships, with GRID-Arendal and SARDC IMERCSA bringing in their capacity to communicate complex science in a user-friendly way, and with SADC and the Zambezi Watercourse Commission providing the necessary political legitimacy to the process. GRID-Arendal values partnerships in as far as they are mutually beneficial and help leverage each other’s potential. Partners such as SARDC have enabled GRID-Arendal’s products to have a global outreach. It is therefore GRID-Arendal’s wish that such partnerships are not only strengthened but also allowed to be more visible.

The Zambezi River Basin Atlas of the Changing Environment profiles an outstanding and globally important river basin. The massive Zambezi River Basin is a vital resource that holds potential for cooperation of the eight riparian nations in areas of environmental governance, cultural and heritage preservation, and economic development. Aiming to be of value in guiding decision- and policy-making, the Atlas is expected to be an indispensable tool for benchmarking environmentally sustainable development and protection of ecosystem services in the basin. The eight countries sharing the basin – Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe – will benefit from the Atlas through the profiling of the basin’s potential, as well as facilitation of increased cross-border cooperation. The chosen concept and format of an environmental assessment, which uses visual science in defining policy direction should have a positive impact on safeguarding the magnificent landscapes and important ecosystems of the basin. Being the most shared and largest river basin in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), wise management of the Zambezi naturally could provide leadership and an example of success that authorities in other regions of shared river basins could want to replicate. With five major transfrontier conservation areas, the Zambezi River Basin is important in fostering regional cooperation. Such cooperation is significant for the SADC region given the strong economic, cultural and political ties, which are aided by regional policies such as the one-stop border post, uni-visa system for tourists and the SADC protocol on the movement of people and goods.

Dr. Peter Prokosch Managing Director, GRID-Arendal August 2012

The Zambezi River Basin Atlas of the Changing Environment underscores the importance of the environment dimension

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