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{{Infobox ecoregion
|name = Zambezian flooded grasslands
|image = Jabirú africano (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis), delta del Okavango, Botsuana, 2018-07-31, DD 11.jpg
|image_size = 300
|image_alt = center
|caption = [[Saddle-billed stork]] ''(Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis)'' in Botswana's [[Okavango Delta]].
|map = Ecoregion AT0907.svg
|map_size =
|map_alt =
|map_caption = Map showing the Zambezian flooded grasslands
|biogeographic_realm = [[Afrotropical]]
|biome = [[Flooded grasslands and savannas]]
|animals =
|bird_species =
|mammal_species =
|border =
|borders =
|area = 153,600
|country =
|countries = [[Angola]], [[Botswana]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Malawi]], [[Mozambique]], [[Namibia]], [[Tanzania]], and [[Zambia]]
|state =
|region_type =
|elevation =
|coordinates =
|geology =
|seas =
|rivers =
|climate =
|soil =
|conservation = relatively stable/intact
|global200 =
|habitat_loss =
|habitat_loss_ref =
|protected =
|protected_ref =
|embedded =
}}
The '''Zambezian flooded grasslands'''
==Setting==
The Zambezian [[flooded grassland]]s can be found on seasonally- or permanently-flooded lowlands in the basin of the [[Zambezi]] and neighboring river basins. These enclaves lie in the [[Zambezian region]], a broad belt of seasonally-dry [[
Large enclaves of flooded grassland include:
* [[Ulanga River|Kilombero Valley]] and [[Mkata Plain]] in southern Tanzania
*
*
* The [[Okavango Delta]] in [[Botswana]]
* around [[Lake Chilwa]] in [[Malawi]]
* The [[Barotse Floodplain]], [[Kafue Flats]], [[Busanga Swamp]], and [[Lukanga Swamp]] in the Zambezi basin of [[Zambia]].
* The upper [[Chambeshi River]], [[Bangweulu Swamp]], the [[Luapula River]] delta south of [[Lake Mweru]], and [[Lake Mweru
The region has a tropical climate with a hot wet summer between November and March.
==Flora==
These patches of wetland contain grassland and swamp vegetation which varies from area to area within this widely spread ecoregion.
==Fauna==
Even during the dry season, the floodplains sustain a great deal of wildlife including grazing [[African buffalo]], [[wildebeest]], and [[elephant]]s, [[zebra]]s, and [[giraffe]]s, as well as [[hippopotamus]] and [[crocodile]]s in the waters. There are many antelopes such as [[waterbuck]]s, [[puku]]s, [[common eland|eland]]s, and [[lechwe]], the Bangwelu Swamp in particular is home to [[black lechwe]] (''Kobus leche smithermani''), [[tsessebe]], and [[sitatunga]] while the Kafue Flats have large groups of [[Kafue lechwe]] and [[Burchell's zebra]].
The large numbers of birds, especially waterbirds, in the floodplains include [[saddle-billed stork]]s. There are two endemic reptiles; the Merara toad (''[[Amietophrynus reesi]]'') in the Kilombero valley, and the [[Barotse water snake]] (''Crotaphopeltis barotseensis'').
==Threats and preservation==
Despite the [[tsetse fly]] and the swampy water the floodplains have long been home to rural communities, such as the [[Lozi people]] in the Barotse Floodplain and the [[Tonga people of Zambia and Zimbabwe|Tonga]] in the Kafue Flats, but are mostly unspoilt and large areas are protected. However, wildlife is still vulnerable to poaching and illegal farming or grazing of livestock. Meanwhile as the population in this part of Africa is continually growing demand for water and farmland places the floodplains under constant threat as land is polluted or farmed, grassland set on fire and rivers are dammed or diverted. The Kafue Flats have been drastically changed by the damming of the river and similar projects are planned for the Okavango.
Protected areas include the Okavango Delta, the Bangweulu, Moyowosi and Kilombero swamps and the Kafue Flats and in addition Lake Chilwa is a [[Ramsar site|Ramsar]] birding area. Of these Okavango is the largest and best-known, being mostly within the [[Moremi Game Reserve]], having spectacular wildlife and a well-developed safari industry based in the town of [[Maun, Botswana|Maun]]. In Zambia [[Lochinvar National Park|Lochinvar]] and [[Blue Lagoon National Park]]s are protected.
==References and external links==
* {{WWF ecoregion|name=Zambezian flooded savannas|id=at0907}}
[[Category:Zambezian flooded grasslands|
[[Category:Afrotropical
[[Category:Ecoregions of Angola]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Botswana]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Malawi]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Mozambique]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Namibia]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Tanzania]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Zambia]]
[[Category:Flooded grasslands and savannas]]
[[Category:Floodplains of Africa]]
[[Category:Zambezian region]]
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