Chansa Chomba’s research while affiliated with Mulungushi University and other places

The Old World Vultures (OWV), constituting 16 species primarily in Africa, Europe and Asia, are currently being driven to extinction mostly by anthropogenic activities, especially poisoning. The vulture losses from poisoning caused by human-related activities are en masse at a single mortality event-level and occur in complex social-ecological systems. There has been a growing body of knowledge on wildlife poisoning over the years. However, no review has been done to consolidate vulture poisoning studies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with a social lens of conservation planning. Here we present a review of the vulture poisoning research by re-contextualizing the problem of vulture poisoning across SSA. We employed stepwise Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method to search for literature on vulture poisoning. The search yielded 211 studies which were trimmed to 55 after applying sets of eligibility criteria. Literature shows that efforts aimed at successful vulture conservation planning will require an understanding of the relational aspects of stakeholder social capital (assets) that are critical to the implementation of species recovery strategies. Strengthening relational social capital through multi-scale stakeholder evidence-based awareness creation and participation is necessary for addressing the African Vulture Crisis (AVC). Applying stakeholder social capital approaches to different vulture conservation scenarios at local, regional and international scales can enhance successful implementation of conservation strategies for the persistence of vultures in complex socio-ecological systems in African landscapes. Existing literature also showed the importance of stakeholder social capital as a countermeasure against vulture losses.

Inappropriate deployment of linear physical infrastructures, such as game fences, roads, electric power-lines, buildings, and phone masts can be detrimental to wild fauna. Fatalities arising from wildlife collisions with such infrastructure have been widely documented. However, there are non-physical and less studied effects, such as the ‘hidden’ negative ecological effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on terrestrial fauna. In this study, the effects of phone mast-generated EMR on abundance, richness and distribution of terrestrial birds and insects in the Kafue National Park were studied. Ten (10) sample plots of 100 m x 100 m each were set at three (3) radial locations, based on the phone mast generated EMR strengths. For birds, point counts, while hand collection, cryptic searching, vegetation beating, sweep netting, pitfall trapping, sorting and identification for insects were employed for data collection. Data were analysed using biological indices (i.e., Shannon-Wiener and Simpson’s) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The wildlife diversity significantly reduced with increasing EMR strengths, especially in areas (<12 km from phone mast) with greater than 250±20 µA/m EMR levels. We suggest that deployment of wireless telecommunication infrastructure should take into account EMR levels, safe zones and avoid or minimize biological loss in hotspots.

A survey to determine the ecological character focusing on the condit ion and vegetat ion structure of the dambo wet land eco-system in the upper sub-catchment of the Chongwe River, cent ral Zambia was carried out focusing on five dambos and associated forests in Kanakantapa area. Line intercept method was used to evaluate herbaceous cover which also included shrubs an d forbs, while woody plants were assessed using Point Cent red Quadrat (PCQ) method and species importance values. Results of the study showed that dambos were largely dominated by Loudentia simplex (Nees) Hubbard (30.5%), Digitaria milanjiana (Rendle) Stapf (21.7%), Setaria ciliolata (26%) and Setaria anceps Stapf ex Massey (20.0%). Important woody plant species were Julbernardia globiflora (97.56 IV), Monotes katangensis (66.91 IV), Julbernardia panniculata Tropin (57.33) Acacia sieberana DC. (52.39 IV), Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia (40.72IV), Brachystegia boehmii (35.99 IV) Albizia antunesiana (33.43 IV). All dambos studied showed shrub encroachment with relat ively high number of shrub species in Kanakantapa and Mwiinde dambos ecosystems. Highest shrub canopy cover was observed in Kanakantapa dambo. It was concluded that dambos were largely at high risk of degradat ion due to mainly siltat ion influenced by deforestat ion, overgrazing and shrub encroachment . Further research is required to guide sustainable land use and future plans of possible catchment management as well as determining hydrological implicat ion and possible ways of conservat ion of dambos.

This survey was carried out in the Luangwa Valley eastern Zambia. The main aim and objectives were to; determine the pattern of elephant damage to wood vegetation by examining damage categories, species and plant parts affected and plausible factors influencing such selectivity in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. Objectives were to; observe and classify elephant damage categories, identify tree species and plant parts affected by each damage category, determine tree height and girth size selected. The Point Centre Quarter Method, a plot less method which does not require a correction factor was used. Results obtained showed that elephant damage to woody vegetation was selective. Five damage categories were recorded, and these were; broken branch/stem, debarking (including stripping and ring barking), scarring, push over, and uprooting. Of the five damage categories, broken branch/stem had the highest frequency 80 %, and the least was up rooting 2 %. Major factors influencing such damage categories were; tree species specific characteristics, tree height, and trunk girth size. Further research is required to determine the influence of season (dry and wet seasons), water availability, soil factors, distance from water source and other factors on elephant foraging behaviour in South Luangwa National Park.

A baseline survey was carried out in 2016 in response to a call by the United Nations Development Programme, Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme for managing the environment and resources in Zambia. It focused on supporting the creation of global environmental benefits and safeguarding the global environment through community and local solutions that complements and adds value to national and global level actions. Key areas of the study included; biodiversity, international waters, climate change, land degradation and persistent organic pollutants. The latter, in particular were considered to be an area of concern to human health. Literature review of key documents; key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations were used to collect secondary and primary data. Common resources challenges identified were illegal harvesting of forestry products such as logging, hunting, fishing and land degradation. Use of persistent Organic pesticides was insignificant particularly in the upper and middle catchment areas.

A baseline survey was carried out in 2016 in response to a call by the United Nations Development Programme, Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme for managing the environment and resources in Zambia. It focused on supporting the creation of global environmental benefits and safeguarding the global environment through community and local solutions that complements and adds value to national and global level actions. Key areas of the study included; biodiversity, international waters, climate change, land degradation and persistent organic pollutants. The latter, in particular were considered to be an area of concern to human health. Literature review of key documents; key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations were used to collect secondary and primary data. Common resources challenges identified were illegal harvesting of forestry products such as logging, hunting, fishing and land degradation. Use of persistent Organic pesticides was insignificant particularly in the upper and middle catchment areas.