Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The Barotse Floodplain, a vast wetland area in Zambia, is facing severe impacts from climate change.The primary objective of the study was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of climate change on the Barotse Floodplain and develop sustainable and effective strategies for adaptation.The research aim was to investigate the various impacts of climate change on the ecosystem, hydrological impacts, ecological dynamics, socio-economic repercussions, and indigenous potential adaptation strategies.This was a mixed method study utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods.To gather quantitative data, eight (8) water samples were conveniently collected from eight (8) informal settlements within the Barotse Floodplain area, namely Lyeneno, Likundu, Lyatolo, Liyala, Indoo, Little Zambezi River, Zambezi River and KB1 from the main city of Mongu.The collected sterilized and recommended water collection bottles underwent various analysis from bacteriological test to pH tests measured by the Western Water & Sewerage company in Mongu.For qualitative data, eight (8) semi-structured interviews were purposively administered to the community leaders from each informal settlement where the water samples were collected.This study found that the water quality in the Barotse floodplain was negatively impacted by climate change but were within acceptable WHO limits.The social-economic impacts have the potential to harm the surrounding ecosystem and the livelihoods of the local communities.The study recommends the urgent need for action to address the impacts of climate change on the Barotse Floodplain and other vulnerable ecosystems around in western province.
Institution: University of Zambia
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409344140