Rusizi National Park (6036)
Burundi, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Rusizi National Park
Central coordinates: Latitude: -3.2190, Longitude: 29.2410
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 780 to 1000
Area of KBA (km2): 85.05011
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Rusizi National Park is located north-west of Bujumbura against the international frontier with DR Congo. It is made up of two parts; a strip of flood-plain about 2 km wide and 35 km long beside the east bank of the Rusizi river and, to the south, a smaller area comprising the delta of the Rusizi at the point where it enters Lake Tanganyika. The two parts are separated by the main Bujumbura–Uvira road. The delta is a mixture of islands and channels covered locally by Phragmites and papyrus. An important feature of the northern part of the reserve are the stands of the fire-resistant palm Hyphaene benguellensis ventricosa. Other dominant species are Acacia albida, Balanites aegyptiaca and Euphorbia candelabrum. There are several ponds of varying size in the northern section.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. KBA identified in the process of compiling the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the East Afromontane Hotspot. Species taxonomy and threat category was based on IUCN Red List 2010-4.
Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. The site supports a wide diversity of waterbirds, particularly migrant species. Ardeola idae, Phoenicopterus minor, Circus macrourus, Falco naumanni, Gallinago media and Glareola nordmanni have all been recorded. In addition to those listed below, other counts include 300 Phoenicopterus minor, 200 Plegadis falcinellus and 2,000 Dendrocygna viduata. In addition, one species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome, two of the Lake Victoria Basin biome, three of the Afrotropical Highlands biome and two of the Zambezian biome have also been recorded (see Table 3). Non-bird biodiversity: The ungulate Tragelaphus spekii (LR/nt) has been recorded.
Delineation rationale: 2011-12-06 (BL Secretariat): site extent reduced from 9000 ha to 6200 ha, based on refined GIS polygon (rounded to nearest 10%), as part of CEPF East Afromontane Ecosystem Profiling process.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 18 | |
| Grassland | 7 | |
| Forest | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 23 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Fires sweep the area during the dry season, June–September. Despite the intense human pressures on the area, it has remained in relatively in good condition, especially in the north.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Debonnet (1991), Verschuren (1977), Wilson (1990).