Potential Irrigation development areas for assessments November 2023
1) Areas currently irrigated are, areas on higher ground with wet vegetation at the end of the dry season (September-October 2023). In the absence of visual canals, wet vegetation detected is possibly irrigated by an underground water source or natural vegetation around springs.	It is assumed that the currently irrigated areas are the most promising for expansion, assuming adequate water availability, suitable land for expansion and an adequate market for the sale of irrigated crops and products.
Riverine areas with loss of tree cover in the period 2000 - 2022 (Hansen)	The recent clearing of riparian forests and trees can be a good indicator of the areas selected by the local population for the introduction and expansion of irrigation

Example Potential Areas for Assessment November 2023
Along national road 100, the Cuvelo area upstream of the Bambolo and its tributary has large deforested areas. Pump irrigation is expected on this recently developed agricultural land.	West (coastal) section Balombo Basin
The zones subject to restrictions for the expansion of irrigation include: Protected Areas (Wildlife, Tourism, National Parks, Forest Reserves, etc.) Military bases, reserved land related to public services, urban areas excluded for agriculture, private land. Areas with inadequate water and unsuitable soil for irrigated agriculture.	Currently there is not information available of restricted areas in the West Section of the Balombo Basin

Areas exclude from further irrigation development assessment November 2023
The zones subject to restrictions for the expansion of irrigation include: Protected Areas (Wildlife, Tourism, National Parks, Forest Reserves, etc.) Military bases, reserved land related to public services, urban areas excluded for agriculture, private land. Areas with inadequate water and unsuitable soil for irrigated agriculture.	Currently there is not information available of restricted areas in the West Section of the Balombo Basin

Map for analysis of riverine areas with clared tree cover since 2000, for irrigation expansion potential

Map Legend
	Colour chart representing the year of tree loss for the years 2000 to 2022. You can inspect the banks of the Balombo River and Tributaries for recent irrigation developments by using the layers "google satellite", "lossyear.." and "1km-buffer.." in the interactive image below
	The image represents the approximate course of the river, a 1 km riparian buffer and the areas with year of loss (see colour scheme) inside and outside the riparian zone. The demonstrated section of the Balombo River is the Canjala - Coastal section. See layer "1km_buffer_balombo_Benguela" See layer "1km_Buffer_Balombo_Benguela"

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