List of freshwater ecoregions in Africa and Madagascar

This is a list of freshwater ecoregions in Africa and Madagascar, as identified by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The WWF divides the Earth's land surface into ecoregions, defined as "large area[s] of land or water containing a distinct assemblage of natural communities and species". Ecoregions are grouped into bioregions, "a complex of ecoregions that share a similar biogeographic history, and thus often have strong affinities at higher taxonomic levels (e.g. genera, families)." The Earth's land surface is divided into eight biogeographic realms. Most of Africa lies in the Afrotropical realm, although the freshwater ecoregions of North Africa have much in common with the Palearctic.

Each ecoregion is also classified into major habitat types, or biomes.

Many consider this classification to be quite decisive, and some propose these as stable borders for bioregional democracy initiatives.

by Bioregion

North African

Nilo-Sudan

Upper Guinea

West Coast Equatorial

Congo

  • Albertine Highlands (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Bangweulu-Mweru (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia)
  • Cuvette Centrale (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Kasai (Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Lower Congo (Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo)
  • Lower Congo Rapids (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo)
  • Mai Ndombe (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Malebo Pool (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Sangha (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo)
  • Sudanic Congo (Oubangi) (Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo)
  • Uele (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Upper Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Upper Congo Rapids (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Upper Luluaba (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Thysville Caves (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Tumba (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Great Lakes

Eastern and Coastal

Cuanza

Zambezi

  • Etosha (Angola, Namibia)
  • Kalahari (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa)
  • Karstveld Sink Holes (Namibia)
  • Namib Coastal (Angola, Namibia)
  • Okavango Floodplains (Angola, Botswana, Namibia)
  • Zambezian Lowveld (Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
  • Zambezi
    • Zambezian Headwaters (Angola, Zambia)
    • Kafue (Zambia)
    • Upper Zambezi Floodplains (Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia)
    • Mulanje (Malawi, Mozambique)
    • Eastern Zimbabwe Highlands (Mozambique, Zimbabwe)
    • Zambezian (Plateau) Highveld (Zimbabwe)
    • Middle Zambezi Luangwa (Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
    • Lower Zambezi (Malawi, Mozambique)

Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands

Southern Temperate

  • Amatole-Winterberg Highlands (South Africa)
  • Cape Fold (South Africa)
  • Drakensberg-Maloti Highlands (Lesotho, South Africa)
  • Karoo (South Africa)
  • Southern Kalahari (South Africa)
  • Southern Temperate Highveld (South Africa, Swaziland)
  • Western Orange (Botswana, South Africa)

by Major Habitat type

Closed basins and small lakes

Floodplains, swamps, and lakes

Moist forest rivers

  • Ashanti
  • Cuvette Centrale
  • Central West Coastal Equatorial
  • Eburneo
  • Kasai
  • Lower Congo
  • Madagascar Eastern Lowlands
  • Malebo Pool
  • Northern Upper Guinea
  • Northern West Coast Equatorial
  • Sangha
  • Southern Upper Guinea
  • Northern West Coastal Equatorial
  • Sudanic Congo (Oubangi)
  • Upper Congo
  • Upper Niger

Mediterranean systems

Highland and mountain systems

Island rivers and lakes

Large lakes

Large river deltas

Large river rapids

  • Lower Congo Rapids
  • Upper Congo Rapids

Savanna-dry forest rivers

  • Bight Coastal
  • Cuanza
  • Kenyan Coastal Rivers
  • Lower Niger-Benue
  • Lower Zambezi
  • Madagascar Northwestern Basins
  • Madagascar Western Basins
  • Middle Zambezi Luangwa
  • Pangani
  • Senegal-Gambia Catchments
  • Eastern Coastal Basins
  • Southern Temperate Highveld
  • Uele
  • Volta
  • Zambezian Headwaters
  • Zambezian Lowveld
  • Zamebzian (Plateau) Highveld

Subterranean and spring systems

Xeric systems

  • Dry Sahel
  • Etosha
  • Horn
  • Kalahari
  • Karoo
  • Lower Nile
  • Madagascar Southern Basins
  • Namib Coastal
  • Red Sea Coastal
  • Shebele-Juba Catchments
  • Southern Kalahari
  • Temporary Maghreb
  • Western Orange

References

  • Thieme, Michelle L. (2005). Freshwater Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A Conservation Assessment. Island Press, Washington DC.
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