The Barotse Floodplain FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE © JASPER DOEST / WWF DOEST © JASPER

Introduction

The River rises in the due to its flatness and openness, it is This means these dambos act as highlands of north-western , estimated at 550,000ha extending sponges, structuring much of the flowing into and entering 250km in length, and in places up Zambezi catchment and providing a Western Zambia where it meanders to 50 km wide. The floodplains are much-needed ‘safety-valve’ against through Liuwa Plains and the Barotse bordered by a belt of numerous climate effects such as droughts Floodplains and eventually flows in pans, some of which are up to 4km and for local communities Zimbabwe and Mozambique before in diameter. Some of these are but also for countries downstream. draining into the Indian Ocean. permanently filled with water, while The river system plays a vital role With a total catchment area of others are fed by springs rising from in sustaining the livelihoods of 1,250,000 km2, the Zambezi River their margins. Many of the pans are approximately 250,000 people Basin is the fourth largest in Africa. aligned with shallow grassy valleys, and stimulating economic growth. While the exact size of the Barotse known as dambos, which arebordered Floodplain is difficult to estimate, by densely vegetated areas. The Barotse Floodplain Contribution

Local livelihoods and cultural landscape based on the construction economic value of approximately traditions are closely linked to seasonal of homesteads, royal graves and $8.64 million per year, at 2017 values. flooding of the Barotse Floodplain. for transportation, land drainage, At household level, wetlands were During the dry season, most local control and agricultural activity. calculated to generate an average net production, economic activity and Fisheries remains a key economic financial return of $405 ($586) per settlement is in the floodplain area. activity, supplying local households year, at 2017 values (the equivalent As the plain becomes inundated, with a source of food and also of 7.3 minimum wages). 83% of this most of the population move to the providing income through sales to value comprises subsistence and uplands and plain fringes. This local markets on the Copperbelt and home consumption, and by far the annual relocation of people and cattle Lusaka Provinces as well as markets most valuable products were found includes the movement of the across the border in Angola and to be fish (43% of the total, and 73% in a highly- celebrated traditional the Democratic Republic of Congo of household cash income), floodplain ceremony - the ceremony. (DRC). In total, local use of wetland grazing (29% of the total) and The floodplains are an exceptional resources in the Barotse Floodplain crop production (22% of the total). example of a culturally evolved has been estimated to have a net © JASPER DOEST / WWF inclusion on the Heritage World Floodplain Barotse List. The includingLiuwa Plains National Park qualifies as a cultural landscape based three on criteria including: i. Bears a unique least at or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition a civilization to or which is living which or has disappeared. The transhumance system the of Barotse people is an exceptional testimony a living to cultural tradition involving the annual seasonal movements of people, their properties and other creatures from the floodplains to vice associated(and versa) with royal higher grounds Cultural Landscape under the United Nations Educational ScientificCultural and Organization The world heritage status is an (UNESCO). important tool for the conservation culturalof and natural resources of universal outstanding value and seeking the status contributes sustainableto management and preservation cultural of and natural resources both for present and future generations. the Under National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) the of 1989 laws Zambia of and the Act 173 Statutory Instrument 84 of 2013 of Zambia,of the BarotseFloodplain Cultural Landscapeis (BPCL) recognised as a National Monument. CULTURAL LANDSCAPE: CULTURAL Cultural Organization (UNESCO), landscapes are cultural properties that represent the combined works nature of and man. of culturalEssentially, landscapes are illustrative of the evolution humanof society and settlement over time, under the physicalconstraints the and/or influence of opportunities presented by their natural environment and successive social, economic and cultural drivers. BAROTSEFLOODPLAIN AS A HeritageThe World Convention identifies ten (10) criteria on properties which can be considered for fishing methods (such as nets). mosquito If not controlled quickly, stocks fish will be depleted, and without the protection of the flood plain and its associated river systems, the long- term ecological function these of plains droughts and Floods will disappear. will be severe, more threatening not only biodiversity also but the cultural theuses existence) the of (and people on the floodplains. The World Wide Fund Nature for (WWF) Zambia, throughits Netherlands funded Programme,DoB is partnering with the National Heritage Conservation Commission(NHCC) in collaboration with the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) t o seek the declaration the of Floodplains Heritage as a World Threats to the Barotse Floodplain The integrity of the Barotse threatened particularly is Floodplains by large infrastructure development plans. Specificallycanalisation of the river for water road building, transport, expansion of mining and the conversion of wetlands for agriculture (both small-scale and potentially large-scale) are looming threats as Zambia seeks expand to its economy and attract Direct Foreign powerInvestments. all these To developments and export energy earnto foreign exchange, several hydropower plants are projected in the area. The area isseen as a prime investment destination. Moreover, the Barotse floodplain areby plagued overfishing and use of illegal The Convention for the Protection of the Cultural World and Natural Heritage was by adopted the General Conference ofthe United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inThe 1972. purpose of the Convention is to ensure the identification,management cultural of and natural conservation heritage of outstanding universal and value. years 20 the World later, Heritage Convention became the first internationallegal instrument to recognize the protection of cultural landscapes adopted on the World Heritage List based agreed on criteria United the to According inclusion. for Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural landscapes rituals as well as the complex of waves of significant stages in their WHY SEEK THE WORLD royal graves, mounds and . history and development. This HERITAGE STATUS? This tradition is largely influenced network of canals represents the There are a number of advantages by floods and is sustained by the largest public works within a associated with world heritage elaborate and robust traditional floodplain area in Africa. The canals status. Some of these include: management system. A much clearer were constructed by digging the understanding of the many complex earth using rudimentary tools shaped 1. Properties that are listed on the cultural and social traditions that like oars. For over 400 years, the World Heritage List attract a status make up the transhumance system that canals have been used to facilitate and identity that denotes cultural is practiced by the Lozi and how these transhumance, transportation of and heritage values of outstanding have shaped the landscape over time goods as well as general movement of universal significance. These values and continue to shape the landscape in people within the landscape including form a distinct identify for the an exceptional way has been a subject land drainage for agricultural Barotse Floodplain and its people of different scholarly investigations. purposes and water supply. and reinforces the pride of the people of and Zambia ii. Is an outstanding example iii. Directly and tangibly associated as a whole. In , only of a technological ensemble or with events or living traditions, three cultural landscapes including landscape which illustrates (a) with ideas or with beliefs, with Matopo Hills, Mapungubwe in significant stage(s) in human history artistic and literary works of Zimbabwe and the Richtersveld area outstanding universal significance. With over 400 years old outstanding in South Africa are designated as array of interlinked canals of The Barotse Floodplain is renowned cultural landscapes. The declaration multipurpose use, the Barotse for its elaborate and strong traditional of the Barotse Floodplain as a World Floodplains is the only inland flood governance system which is sustained Heritage Cultural Landscape would plain in Africa that has canals mainly by an idea of the flood and various re-inforce the source of pride and used for transportation, in addition beliefs, myths and taboos, mainly recognition of the Barotse as a to agriculture and water supply. related to the cult system within fascinating, vibrant, scenic area that is These elaborate canals traversing the kingship; and is associated a unique example of a living tradition. the landscape and intermingling with transhumance, a network with settlement mounds create a of canals and royal burial sites. landscape which illustrates two main © IMAKANDO SINYAMA / WWF 2. Tourism is one of the main socio- The Barotse people have lived and UNESCO requires the formulation economic activities in Western managed cultural and natural of the institutional structure Province. The Kuomboka Ceremony resources for over 100 hundred that integrates traditional and of the Barotse people attracts local years through an elaborate system of government institutional structures and international tourists. This traditional practices. Examples of such through a co-management approach. traditional ceremony is closely linked practices and rules include the use In addition, the nomination with the seasonal flooding of the of fishing gears such as reed baskets requires stakeholders to develop an Barotse plain, and most of the local (Lishano), hand spear (Muhaway) implementation plan of activities that people move from the floodplain to and fish weirs (Muhumbu) that can promote socio-economic development the uplands and plain fringes during only be used in certain water bodies. and retain the cultural values of the the flood period. This colorful and Other examples include annual landscape. Therefore, the declaration highly celebrated ceremony attracts group fishing in lagoons known as does not mean that there will be no tourists and contributes to local Masas at certain times of the year development within the Barotse Plains enterprises such as in the hospitality officially opened by senior Indunas Cultural Lanscape. but rather that industry, public transport, traditional of the Barotse Royal Establishment any developments or projects within foods and handicrafts (i.e. chitenge (BRE). As such, the management the Barotse Plains Cultural Lanscape. materials Mashushu/Lichali, plan aims to reinforce existing should be in line with the shared Misisi/Liziba). The declaration of sustainable management practices vision of the cultural landscape. the Barotse Floodplain as a World rather impose new management Heritage Cultural Landscape could regimes for the landscape. potentially contribute towards raising For more information the tourism potential of the property The management plan will ensure Mr. Ndiyoi Muyumbwa, NHCC, and will open up a window for other that there is strict adherence to UNESCO Focal Contact Person, international visitors such as cultural conservation rules and guidelines tourists, heritage researchers, for all human activities within the Email:[email protected] film makers, adventure tourists. Barotse Plains Cultural Lanscape. For more information Since the Barotse Plains Cultural 3. All nominated properties require Lanscape. is a living landscape, Mrs Isabel Mukelabai , WWF the development of management the inhabitants of Barotseland will Zambia,Governance and plan that articulates the vision and continue practicing their economic Partnerships Manager, aspirations of stakeholders regarding livelihoods. The only precaution how the cultural landscape will be Email:[email protected] will be to sustainably practice these managed and utilized. For large spatial activities such as fishing, bird hunting, Visit: wwfzm.panda.org areas such as cultural landscape, the harvesting of reeds and farming. management plan integrates various Follow us: @wwfzambia sectoral management plans such as These practices are enforced by an fisheries, forests, water and land. The institutional systems at regional development of the management plan level by traditional ministers and for the Barotse Floodplain is meant at the silalo, or village group, and to provide a holistic approach to the village level by the Silalo Indunas and management of cultural and natural Indunas respectively. Over the years, resources at several levels such as this system of practices has weakened community, district and provincial. due to limited capacity to enforce, lack of resources and ambiguity regarding 4. Properties on the World Heritage the roles and responsibilities list, form part of a network of traditional authorities and of internationally recognized formal government systems. values of outstanding universal value. This network provides The formulation of the Management opportunities for knowledge sharing, Plan for the Barotse Floodplain capacity building and research potentially provides an opportunity for regarding the management and a shared understanding of the issues socio-economic development. and challenges regarding traditional practices, roles and responsibilities of MANAGEMENT OF A WORLD BRE and Government Departments HERITAGE CULTURAL at several institutional levels. LANDSCAPE: