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Preface
in sustainable development by emphasizing the ills of
deforestation, land degradation and loss of biodiversity, among
others, while also showcasing the benefits of sustainable
conservation. For example, the Atlas acknowledges the
importance of wildlife corridors as provided by trans-frontier
conservation areas in allowing the free movement of wildlife as
they search for pasture and water. The Atlas also acknowledges
the important role the Zambezi River Basin plays in the
integration of the SADC region by being the backbone of
hydro-power generation.
By visually presenting an in-depth assessment of the scale
of change in the state of the environment in the basin, the
Zambezi River Basin Atlas of the Changing Environment
not only supports policy-making, but also opens up new
opportunities for collaborative research.
The preparation of the Atlas demonstrates the value of
partnerships, with GRID-Arendal and SARDC IMERCSA
bringing in their capacity to communicate complex science
in a user-friendly way, and with SADC and the Zambezi
Watercourse Commission providing the necessary political
legitimacy to the process. GRID-Arendal values partnerships
in as far as they are mutually beneficial and help leverage
each other’s potential. Partners such as SARDC have enabled
GRID-Arendal’s products to have a global outreach. It is
therefore GRID-Arendal’s wish that such partnerships are not
only strengthened but also allowed to be more visible.
The Zambezi River Basin Atlas of the Changing Environment
profiles an outstanding and globally important river basin.
The massive Zambezi River Basin is a vital resource that holds
potential for cooperation of the eight riparian nations in
areas of environmental governance, cultural and heritage
preservation, and economic development.
Aiming to be of value in guiding decision- and policy-making, the
Atlas is expected to be an indispensable tool for benchmarking
environmentally sustainable development and protection of
ecosystem services in the basin. The eight countries sharing
the basin – Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia,
Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe – will benefit from the Atlas
through the profiling of the basin’s potential, as well as facilitation
of increased cross-border cooperation.
The chosen concept and format of an environmental
assessment, which uses visual science in defining policy
direction should have a positive impact on safeguarding
the magnificent landscapes and important ecosystems of
the basin. Being the most shared and largest river basin in
the Southern African Development Community (SADC),
wise management of the Zambezi naturally could provide
leadership and an example of success that authorities in other
regions of shared river basins could want to replicate.
With five major transfrontier conservation areas, the Zambezi
River Basin is important in fostering regional cooperation.
Such cooperation is significant for the SADC region given
the strong economic, cultural and political ties, which are
aided by regional policies such as the one-stop border post,
uni-visa system for tourists and the SADC protocol on the
movement of people and goods.
The Zambezi River Basin Atlas of the Changing Environment
underscores the importance of the environment dimension
Dr. Peter Prokosch
Managing Director, GRID-Arendal
August 2012