Revisiting the 2024 Groundbreaking Biodiversity Expedition in Upemba National Park

Communication
Nov 10
2 min read

The Kibara Plateau, dominating the northern sector of the Upemba National Park (UNP), became the focus of a comprehensive and groundbreaking biodiversity survey. From June 18 to July 12, 2024, experts from the conservation non-profit Hankuzi Explorations, in partnership with the Forgotten Parks Foundation, the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), and the University of Lubumbashi (UNILU), conducted an extensive scientific investigation to study the park's unique ecosystems and species.

The mission sought to employ an integrated research approach combining multiple disciplines to deepen our understanding of Upemba’s fauna and flora. The project also aimed to highlight the biological value of the park and build on the foundational biodiversity research conducted by De Witte and numerous international and Congolese scientists over the years.

The survey centered on two primary campsites on the Kibara Plateau. The first was located in a gallery forest near the Lubanga River, a tributary of the Senze River, which ultimately feeds into the Lufira River. The second campsite was set up near a smaller tributary of the Kalumengongo River.

These strategic locations allowed researchers to explore diverse ecosystems and target various species groups, including mammals (Mammalia), reptiles and amphibians (Herpetofauna), butterflies (Lepidoptera), aquatic life (water chemistry and macroinvertebrates), fish (Ichthyofauna), plants (Botany), and mycorrhizal fungi.

To achieve comprehensive results, the expedition employed a range of sampling techniques:

Systematic Aquatic Sampling: Assessed influential water sources, including rivers, ephemeral water bodies, and streams.
Active Taxonomic Sampling: Provided detailed insights into the density and diversity of species across different areas, complementing broader multi-taxa sampling arrays.

Multi-Taxa Sampling Arrays: Designed to maximize biodiversity encounters while generating valuable ecological data for analyzing trends in species diversity and density across the park.
Molecular Biology Techniques: Collected genetic samples from various taxonomic groups, including environmental DNA from water samples, soil samples for mycorrhizal fungi, and tissue samples from herpetofauna, fish, mammals, and butterflies.

These genetic samples were stored at UNILU while some others prepared and transported to the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) for long-term storage and genetic analysis. The findings from the expedition marked a significant step in documenting Upemba’s biodiversity, which has gone unstudied for years due to various challenges. The newly acquired data will enable a qualitative and quantitative appreciation of the park’s unique resources and inform data-driven conservation strategies. Additionally, the results are expected to advance scientific research on both local and global scales.