What would you like to search for?

Bringing river beds to life using check dams along the Nsongwe River
© WWF Zambia

The Climate Adaptation for Protected Areas (CAPA) Initiative, under WWF Zambia, has taken a monumental step in restoring the Nsongwe River in Kazungula district, Southern Zambia. Once threatened by soil erosion and erratic water flow, the river faced increasing pressure from climate change, including reduced rainfall between the 2023 and 2024 rainy seasons, heat waves, and prolonged droughts.

In response, the Nsongwe community, with support from the CAPA Initiative, successfully constructed six check dams. These structures play a crucial role in regulating water movement, reducing sedimentation, and promoting vegetation regeneration. Their completion marks a significant milestone in conservation efforts and provides much-needed resilience for both the river and the surrounding communities.

The check dams, strategically built along the river, are part of a broader plan to enhance the river's ecosystem and secure its role in sustaining biodiversity and local livelihoods. A check dam is a small, and sometimes temporary, barrier built across a channel, ditch, or waterway. Its purpose is to slow down the flow of water, helping to prevent erosion.

Obrian Mwanza, who is a Water and Land Resources Development & Management specialist at WWF Zambia highlighted the initiative’s impact:
 

The check dams will help slow down the velocity of gushing water downstream, thereby increasing water retention in the river. This will lead to more water being retained in the river and improved water infiltration along the river's banks. Both domesticated and wild animals will have improved access to water, and people will use the water to improve their livelihoods.”

 

© WWF Zambia
The community is celebrating this milestone. Mervis Sibbuku, a member of the community and part of the group working on the check dams, expressed her gratitude: “For years, we watched the river degrade. These check dams have given us hope, allowing us to see water flow evenly and greenery return along the banks.”
© WWF Zambia
Bobby Mubita, a one of the men involved on the project, shared his experience: “Working on this project has been an eye-opener. I’ve learnt so much about how nature and people are connected. The dams won’t just help the river; they will secure our future by protecting farmland and drinking water.”
© WWF Zambia
© WWF Zambia
The six check dams are more than just structures—they are a symbol of resilience, paving the way for the sustainable coexistence of people and nature in the Nsongwe area. Through such innovative efforts, the future of the Nsongwe River and its people is brighter than ever.