Zambezian and Mopane Woodland Eco-region
Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve is part of an important ecoregion that spreads across southern Africa. Most of this website is dedicated to informal information about our activities and those of the people who support us, but we want you to know just how important this small piece of wilderness is. The information below is taken from several sources, and we give especial thanks to the WWF scientific report on Zambesian and Mopane woodlands from which we gained much insight.
Mwabvi occurs within an area described as the ‘Zambezian and Mopane Woodland Eco-region’, a vast area that includes parts of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa. As an eco-region, it is separated from surrounding eco-regions by lower elevation and rainfall, in Malawi it occurs in the extreme south of the country at the bottom of the Great Rift Valley around the Shire River. It is characterized by the dominance of the mopane tree (Colophospermum mopane ) which forms the greater part of the canopy species throughout much of the range.
The mopane tree occurs both in open savannah and dense woodland. The species has two forms; a stunted, shrubby tree of 1-3m and the so-called ‘cathedral’ mopane which have been recorded as reaching heights of 10-15m. The form which develops appears to be dependant on the soil quality, impermeable alkaline soils producing the stunted form and deep alluvial soils producing the ‘cathedral’ form. Mwabvi’s mopane trees are of the ‘cathedral’ variety.
Mopane woodland is of great ecological and economic importance; the region has been demonstrated to be one of the most important for vertebrate (in particular mammal) diversity in southern Africa, and the properties of the wood itself make it highly sought after as a construction material and for firewood. In Malawi the woodland at a higher elevation has been significantly destroyed/harvested and the pressure on the mopane in the south is now even greater.
|
|
|
The eco-region is known for supporting large communities of ungulates and some of the most significant remaining wild populations of Black rhinoceros, White rhinoceros, Elephant, Hippopotamus, Buffalo, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Kudu and Nyala occur in areas within the region. Predator populations within the region are also characteristically healthy, often demonstrating full species assemblages (Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, and the endangered Wild Dog).
However, poaching has been widespread across the eco-region. The Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis ) and the African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus ), both of which are no longer found in Mwabvi, are two species who have demonstrably suffered across the region from this threat. Mwabvi has also seen some of its ungulate and predator populations decimated by poaching over the past 50 years. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife continue responsibility for antipoaching work, although PAW will help where it can on a day to day basis.
The reserve was reduced in size from around 350 km2 to its present 135 km2 in response to an influx of refugees from the Mozambique conflict and is currently under pressure from loggers to whom the mopane trees that occur within the reserve are of great value. Working in partnership with, and offering community development opportunities to, the people who live around Mwabvi is therefore of prime importance as only through local support can Mwabvi hope to resist these pressures.
Have a look at the habitats, landscapes, trees, and animals in Mwabvi. You can also look through our Photo Gallery for more pictures.
PAW: Promoting environmental conservation and devleopment in Malawi.
