The source of the Luangwa River lies in Zambia's Mafinga Hills. This montane area on the border with Malawi stretches over 12,000 ha and incorporates parts of a National Forest Reserve, and is an essential watershed for farming and fishing communities downstream. It is also a biodiversity hotspot. Today, it is under threat from deforestation driven by agricultural expansion, chitemene (slash-and-burn agriculture), uncontrolled bush fires, timber logging and the collection of firewood.