Zambia - Atlas of our Changing Environment

• Charcoal production and slash-and-burn farming practices have been a major threat to wetlands and have resulted in soil erosion, turbidity of water and siltation. • Zambia’s rainfall pattern has largely remained the same with Northern Province receiving more and Southern Province receiving less rainfall. • The country is classified into three agro- ecological regions. An analysis of rainfall patterns conducted in these regions showed that significant change had occurred in Region I, which receives the lowest rainfall. Additionally, the area of Region I has been expanding over the years. • Zambia’s highest temperatures are recorded in the valleys. Average minimum temperatures have been recorded in parts of North- Western, Copperbelt, Central, Luapula and Northern Provinces. Parts of northern Zambia, particularly Mbala district, experience lower maximum temperatures due to their high altitude. • Zambia is far from attaining MDG 7 on environmental sustainability. More work is needed in all target areas, particularly in reducing the proportion of households without access to clean water.

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Chapter 3 - Track ing Zambia’s Environmental Per formance