期刊名称：The Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (JSDA)
电子版ISSN：1520-5509
出版年度：2013
卷号：15
期号：5
出版社：Institute of Sustainable Development in Africa
摘要：This paper is the first comprehensive historical account of the changes in the ecology and management of Lake Mweru wa Ntipa wetland ecosystem over the period 1867-2013. It highlights major socio-ecological and management regime changes in the last 150 years. This period started when the Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingsto ne documented it in 1867, through the colonial era when Zambia was called Northern Rhodesia to the present time (2013). In the 1860s there was a red locust out break and the area was as a consequence of this outbreak placed under the International Red Locust Control Service until 1956 when it was declared a Game Reserve by the Government of Northern Rhodesia, National Park in 1972 and in 2005 a Ramsar site and Important Bird Area. We also provide an account of the cyclic phases of wet and dry spells of the lake recorded between 1867 - 2013. In the 20thcentury in particular, the wet and dry sp ells created an idea habitat for the locust breeding which attracted in the first instance, the attention of the colonial government and the International Red Locust Control Service. The high diversity and abundance of wild animals on the other hand, compelled government to declare the area as a game reserve and later National Park. The ecological d ynamics of this wetland ecosystem also qualified the area for listing under the Ramsar Convention in 2005 and was also listed as an Important Bird Area. Currently, efforts are under way to restock the area with large mammals and fish as a significant step towards the restoration of its ecological integrity for the conservation of biodiversity and promotion of tourism
关键词：Mweru wa Ntipa National Park; red locust; ecological dynamics; dry spells; Ramsar site; biodiversity; ;restoration; Zambia
