The Zambezi River Basin is home to 40 million people who rely on the river for drinking water, fisheries, irrigation, hydropower production, mining and industry, ecosystem maintenance, and other uses.  The river also attracts tourists from around the world, who come to see Victoria Falls and wildlife living along the river banks. Tourism supports local economies and brings much-needed foreign currency into the basin countries. Protecting and managing the sustainable use and development of the Zambezi is extremely important to the people living in the region.