Kafue River Transect

From its source in the wetlands near Zambia’s northwestern border, through the industrial zones of the Copperbelt, to where it plunges through a steep gorge toward the Zambezi, the Kafue River sustains some of Southern Africa’s richest ecosystems, vital to communities, wildlife, and energy production. Mongabay contributor Ryan Truscott joined an initiative exploring the river’s 1,600-kilometer (1,000-mile) length to gather ecological data about the basin, and better assess and manage threats — from mining and growing settlements in sensitive areas, to invasive crayfish, overfishing, and excessive water abstraction. He reports on how local researchers, rangers and communities are working to safeguard the future of this vital waterway.