HUMANS....

POACHING

Black Rhino killed by commercial poachers for invaluable horn 
(http://www.vfapu.org/VFAPUCommercial.htm, 2008)

Commercial poacher caught red handed selling lepord skin(http://www.vfapu.org/VFAPUCommercial.htm,2008)

Elephant poached for his skin, tusk, feet and hair.
(http://www.vfapu.org/VFAPUCommercial.htm,2008)

Poaching is a result of poverty. Unsustainable fishing and poaching of animals like leopards and elephants. Black Rhinos are endangered and countless of other wild animals that create the diversity of Zambezi; a Rhino could earn a poacher thousands in asia (http://www.zambezitraveller.com/news/african-rhino-poaching-crisis-level, 2012)

Hippo deaths are even causing the clogging of water channels because of the vegetation growth of water marsh vegetation. 

CHANGES the ecological cycle greatly!!! 

HIGH IMPACT ...

Unrest is generated through Zambezi's many choices to prioritize for high impact agriculture, mining, and energy generating over low impact improvements for the Zambezi area, like wildlife tourism and hunting conservation. 

BRIDGES, HOTELS... TOURSIM

(http://www.zambiatourism.com/travel/places/kariba-history.htm,2012)
Zambezi Queen Hotel

Bridges and hotels have made wetlands and the zambezi itself much more accessible to people. Even since the 1920's to 1960's many americans were taking trips to Zambezi, by plane and boat!

Today helicopter toursim is very popular along the area. 

(http://www.extraordinaryjourneys.net/blog/activities-victoria-falls,2012)


THE BAD TOURISM

- tree cutting 

-noise pollution

-littering and abuse of sites 

-illicit tour and guide activities 

-unauthorized buildings for camps

-border violation 

THE GOOD TOURISM 

-education on wildlife conservation 

-anti-poaching and protection of wildlife

-safari rides 

(http://thebestofzambia.com/development/local-ngos/charities/conservation-lower-zambezi-clz, 2011)

MANY GROUPS , NGO's and state groups for conservation

(http://www.conservationzambezi.org, 2012)

  -Zambezi Society 

 - Lower Zambezi Conservation- staffed by volunteers and protects the pioneer program of Black Rhino relocation as well as many other programs specific to species and the general protection of the Lower Zambezi

TABLE

of Human Impact on Environment

INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION : Low/Medium 

(the impact of industries are not nearly as serious as many first world countries and can be considered low)

URBANIZATION: Low 

(but this factor is definitely increasing due to the creation of Dams and new energy sources) 

WILDLIFE DISRUPTION: High

 (with the creation of dams, this once greatly wild area is no inturupted and affected by man made barriers that yield in the loss of animal diversity, also poaching has contributed negatively as well) 

OVERALL: Humans have contributed to an UGLY impact on the Zambezi. However with the counter organizations that are working on good tourism and anti-poaching and still the rather wild expanse of the Zambezi, the state of the environment can be considered as OK!

references used on page:

(www.victoriafalls-guide.net/zambezi-river.html, 2011)

(http://www.zambezitraveller.com/news/african-rhino-poaching-crisis-level, 2012)

(http://thebestofzambia.com/development/local-ngos/charities/conservation-lower-zambezi-clz, 2011)

(http://www.vfapu.org/VFAPUCommercial.htm,2008)

(http://www.extraordinaryjourneys.net/blog/activities-victoria-falls,2012)