Rugezi Marsh (6773)
Rwanda, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Rugezi Marsh
Central coordinates: Latitude: -1.5080, Longitude: 29.8980
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 2050 to 2050
Area of KBA (km2): 102.9145
Protected area coverage (%): 56.47
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Rugezi marsh is located in an inundated valley in the north of Rwanda, to the east of Lake Burera on Uganda border. The vegetation of the marsh is dominated by Miscanthidium violaceum with stands of Cyperus latifolius around the fringes and an area of papyrus C. papyrus near the point of outflow. Average annual rainfall is estimated at 1,200 mm.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) 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 and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Some 43 species have been recorded from the marsh and its immediate vicinity, including five of the Afrotropical Highlands biome (see Table 3). This site is important for Bradypterus graueri and is unusual in that this species occurs together with B. carpalis. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: 2013-07-10 (BL Secretariat): following CEPF East Afromontane ecosystem profiling process, the reported IBA area of 8500 ha has been changed to 10000 ha (as measured in GIS from latest boundary polygon, rounded to nearest 10%).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 2 | |
| Forest | 2 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 95 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The marsh has no legal protection and is under pressure from agriculture. The vegetation of the marsh is cut and burned during the dry season, resulting in progressive habitat degradation. The need to conserve Rugezi is urgent. A management programme involving local communities is required.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Vande weghe (1981, 1983).