Zambia - Overview

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Savanna (woodland and grassland type vegetation) is the major terrestrial biome and lies between the rain forest conditions in the northwest of the country and semi-desert conditions in the southwest. Zambia also has freshwater ecosystems made up of natural and man-made lakes as well as perennial rivers and agricultural land... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

In addition to the 19 National Parks and 34 Game Management Areas, Zambia has 2 national bird sanctuaries.

Percentage of Forest Cover

Miombo woodlands cover about 50% of the country. Man made lakes cover about 9,000 sq. km.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Six strategic goals with objectives, strategies and actions have been derived based on the synthesis and analysis of the results of the biodiversity assessment. The goals are as follows: ensure the conservation of a full range of Zambia’s natural ecosystems through a network of protected areas of viable size; conservation of the genetic diversity of Zambia’s crops and livestock; improve the legal and institutional framework and human resources to implement the strategies for conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits from biodiversity; sustainable use and management of biological resources; develop an appropriate legal and institutional framework and the needed human resources to minimize the risks of GMOs; and ensure the equitable sharing of benefits from the use of Zambia’s biological resources... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Initiatives in Protected Areas

Zambia is addressing issues of protected areas through the implementation of a project namely, ‘Reclassification and Effective Management of National Protected Areas Systems’. The main objective of the project is to strengthen the enabling frameworks and capacities for managing the National Protected Areas System of PA that have biodiversity conservation as a principle objective... More »

Initiatives in Access and Benefit Sharing

In recognition of the pivotal role that genetic resources play in the economic and social development of the country, particularly, to the alleviation of poverty of the local communities, Zambia conducted a study on the status of implementation of ABS principles to identify gaps and draw lessons for improvement. The study revealed that ABS in Zambia has been implemented using sector based approach through CBNRM programmes and has been most successful in the Wildlife sector... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Zambia recognizes and attaches great importance to the participation of indigenous and local communities in the management of natural resources in the country. Through the implementation of Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) programmes, the community is empowered to effectively participate in the decision-making process... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Mr. Ephraim Mwepya Shitima	CBD Primary NFP
Mr. Samson C. Zimba	SBSTTA NFP
Mr. Nkula Mwanza	CHM NFP
Mr. Allan Dauchi	Protected Areas NFP
Mr. Lishomwa Mulongwe	GSPC NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Dr. Alfred J. Sumani	BCH NFP
Ms. Indie Dinala	Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP