List of protected areas in Zambia

The protected areas in the Republic of Zambia include a variety of conservation areas that are critical for preserving the country's unique wildlife and natural resources.^[1][2] These protected areas are managed by the Zambia Wildlife Authority and other organizations, and they include national parks, biosphere reserves, wildlife reserves, nature reserves, scientific reserves, community reserves, and hunting reserves.^[3][4][5] These areas total 311,773 km², or 38% of the country's land area.^{[6][7][8][9][10]} Several of the country's protected areas have been internationally designated as World Heritage Sites or biosphere reserves by UNESCO.^[11][12]

National parks

On December 12, 2022, in Montreal, Canada, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) admitted Zambia to the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, the global standard recognizing well-governed and effectively managed sites on the planet. Zambia's North Luangwa National Park was recognized as Zambia's first Green List site. It is managed by the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Zambia Department of National Parks and Wildlife and is known for its black rhino and African elephant populations.^[10] The park is also home to one of the ten remaining African lion strongholds.^[2]

IUCN category II list

(IUCN protected area category II)^[13]

• Kafue National Park - 22,480 km²^[14]
• South Luangwa National Park - 9,050 km²
• Lower Zambezi National Park - 4,092 km²
• Kasanka National Park - 390 km²
• North Luangwa National Park - 4,636 km²
• Blue Lagoon National Park - 500 km²
• Lavushi Manda National Park - 1,500 km²
• Lochinvar National Park - 428 km²
• Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park - 66 km²

Scientific reserves

• Munyamadzi Game Reserve
• Lusaka South Forest Reserve
• Luano Scientific Reserve
• Nyika Plateau Scientific Reserve
• Lukusuzi Game Park Scientific Reserve

Community reserves

• Chilongozi Community Resource Board Wildlife Reserve
• Chitambo Community Resource Board Wildlife Reserve
• Kafue Flats Community Resource Board Wildlife Reserve
• Kasanka Trust Community Resource Board Wildlife Reserve
• West Lunga National Park Community Resource Board Wildlife Reserve

Wildlife reserves

• Bangweulu Wetlands - 6,000 km²
• Chisamba GMA - 2,480 km²
• Chobe Enclave GMA - 4,400 km²
• Chunga GMA - 5,118 km²
• GMA’s 1,2 and 3 - 10,500 km²
• Game Management Areas (GMAs) 4 and 5 - 7,000 km²
• Liuwa Plain National Park - 3,660 km²
• Lukusuzi National Park - 3,400 km²
• Luambe National Park - 254 km²
• Luanshya GMA - 3,050 km²
• Luangwa Valley - 145,000 km²
• Mafinga Hills GMA - 1,620 km²
• North Luangwa National Park - 4,636 km²
• Nsumbu National Park - 2,220 km²
• West Lunga National Park - 1,470 km²

International designations

UNESCO biosphere reserves

• Kafue Biosphere Reserve - 22,480 km²
• Luangwa Valley Biosphere Reserve - 45,000 km²
• Zambezi River Delta Biosphere Reserve - 7,290 km²

World Heritage Sites

• Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls 686,000 hectares
• ʻThe Royal Kʼoñtʼsʼe National Park 9,062 km²