1st Limpopo Joint Basin Survey — A Milestone in Transboundary Water Cooperation

On the 6th of August, the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) announced the commencement of the 1st Joint Basin Survey (JBS) for the Limpopo River Basin (LRB). The survey is expected to generate data in support of decision making for the joint management of the Limpopo Basin, which is shared by Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, in particular on topics such as water quality, river health and ecological flow requirements.

The JBS is the latest development in a series of high-profile events that have taken place this year to mark milestones in transboundary cooperation on the Limpopo. In March, a meeting was held in Musina, South Africa, at which ministers from the Limpopo River Basin member states signed an endorsement to the Amendment of the LIMCOM Agreement to formalise the establishment of the Council of Ministers as the LIMCOM’s main policy and decision-making body on transboundary water resources development and management issues.

In May this year, member states met in Pretoria to agree on a set of transboundary priorities for the basin, which will guide transboundary and national investments in the basin in the coming years. This took the form of a basin-wide consultative workshop on Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA), a technical process through which the key elements of a Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for the basin can be developed.

The 1st Limpopo JBS started on the 7th of August 2024 and will span two months. It will involve comprehensive data collection and analysis of the water quality to assess the current state of the river basin’s water resources, ecosystems, and socio-economic conditions to inform policymaking aimed at preserving and enhancing the basin’s ecological, hydrological, and socioeconomic well-being for present and future generations.

A multidisciplinary team of experts led working together with representatives of the four LIMCOM Member States as well as the LIMCOM Secretariat are conducting the survey. The process of data collection is also expected to pave the way for the establishment of a team dedicated to the monitoring of the health of the river across the Limopo River Basin (LRB). 

The first focal area of the research will be on water quality: the team is gathering critical data and developing insights into water quality in order to establish a baseline for future monitoring and management efforts. This will assist in identifying significant areas requiring attention and ensure the sustainable use of water resources.

Secondly, the team is making observations about ecosystem health: the study will result in an evaluation of the health of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems within the basin, thereby also identifying and detecting key biodiversity hotspots and areas which require protection for conservation purposes, especially with regard to endangered species and habitats.

Thirdly, the team is conducting research into the socio-economic conditions of communities within the basin and highlighting the relationship between their livelihoods and the services propvided by the basin - inforation which will assist the development of sustainable water management practices.

Lastly, the team will be examining the resilience of the basin to the effects of climate change, which are particularly prominent in Southern Africa. In assessing the vulnerability of the basin to  climate change impacts, data will be provided which will assist the development of adaptive strategies to enhance the resilience of both human and natural systems.

At the launch of the survey, LIMCOM Executive Secretary, Mr Sergio Sitoe said the findings from the 1st Limpopo JBS will also provide a foundation for the development of a comprehensive and updated Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) plan for the basin. “The IWRM plan for LIMCOM will be critical as it will guide future actions to ensure the sustainable use and protection of the basin’s water resources, promote regional cooperation, and enhance the well-being of communities,” Mr Sitoe said.

 LIMCOM Regional Coordinator, Dr. Eddie Riddell noted that 1st Limpopo JBS will have a positive impact on how transboundary water resources are managed in the basin. “LIMCOM extends its gratitude to its Member States, the lead consultant for the JBS, partners, and all stakeholders for their commitment to undertake this important initiative that will go a long way in making the Limpopo River Basin a Dynamic, Prosperous and Sustainable River Basin for All,” Dr. Riddell said.

The 1st Limpopo JBS is being executed under the project “Integrated Transboundary River Basin Management for the Sustainable Development of the Limpopo River Basin.” The project, which aims to uplift the living standards of the basin’s population and conserve the basin’s resources and ecosystem services is being implemented by LIMCOM in partnership with the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). More information about the project is available HERE.

The Limpopo Basin drains an area of about 408,000 km² and flows over a length of 1750 km, starting at the confluence of the Marico and Crocodile rivers in South Africa. It forms the border between Botswana and South Africa, flowing north eastwards over a distance of 394 km to the confluence with the Sashe River which flows in from Zimbabwe and Botswana. It then flows in a southeasterly direction for 219 km, forming the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe, before flowing into Mozambique. More than 80% of the population of the basin lives in its upper reaches in South Africa, including major metropolitan areas like Johannesburg and Pretoria. There is widespread water scarcity throughout the basin, and Botswana in particular is an arid country which depends to large degree on the waters of the Limpopo. Both in Zimbabwe and in Mozambique, irrigated agriculture is an important economic activity, while in South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe there are also significant mining activities in the basin.