Map orientation of livelihood descriptions

For describing how people live in the Luangwa Valley, we will distinguish human populations on the valley floor from those who live on the upland plateau area. The specific area where this comparison is made is based on data collected from a representative segment of the valley ecosystem Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has studied for over 20 years. This area is shown in the national inset map below enclosed by the red circle. Lght green areas within this area represent national parks and cream colored areas game management areas, where human settlements are allowed.

An enlargement of this inset area is provided in the map to the left, where settled areas on the valley floor are symbolized by the irregular red patches. These represent were alluvial soils are restricted and where farming is practiced and settlements occur. Further to the east are creamy colored areas which depict land areas cleared for farming by people living on the plateau region of the ecosystem. Notice the broader, more amorphous area settled on the plateau as opposed to the much more discretely settled areas on the Valley floor. The distance between the valley floor and the plateau is approximately 40 kilometers or about 18 miles of hilly topography, made up largely by the Lundazi National Forest (yellow outline) or the Lukusuzi National Park (blue outline).

In further discussions on livelihood characteristics for residents of Luangwa Valley, reference will be made to COMACO areas. These were areas where the COMACO program began in 2002 and where initial survey work was undertaken to collect livelihood data. The darker brown areas on the map below illustrate the core areas, all within the valley floor. Since 2002, COMACO has extended to new areas with the valley ecosystem, illustrated by the lighter brown areas.

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