Towards integrated river basin management: A case study of Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe

Globally, water is important in the conservation of wildlife. In this present study, we focus on the surface water systems and their role in wildlife conservation in Gonarezhou National Park (GNP), Zimbabwe. Specifically, water from natural perennial rivers, i.e. Mwenezi, Runde and Save rivers, seasonal pans and artificial weirs play a key role in the survival of wildlife in GNP. Moreover, groundwater provides an important source of water, although in GNP, its use is presently very limited. However, over the past years increasing pressure on water resources has led to, for example, upstream damming of some major rivers. These changes have implications on the water available for wildlife inside GNP and communities downstream. This therefore, calls for integrated river basin management (IRBM) for the three catchment rivers covering GNP and adjacent areas in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.