Nyabarongo wetlands (6776)
Rwanda, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Nyabarongo wetlands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -2.2667, Longitude: 30.2667
Elevation (m): 1350 to 1350
Area of KBA (km2): 454.9971
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site is located in the south-east of the country, south-east of Kigali, and includes swamps and marshes in part of the flood-plain of the Nyabarongo river, the longest river in Rwanda. The vegetation is composed of Cladium and Typha spp., Cyperus latifolius, C. papyrus and Echninochloa pyramidalis. Average annual rainfall is estimated to be 950–1,100 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).
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 3 for key species. Around 50 species have been recorded from the wetlands, including Ardeola idae and Circus macrourus. In addition, three species of the Afrotropical Highlands biome (A07) have been reported (Table 3). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 23 | |
| Shrubland | 16 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 44 | |
| Grassland | 12 | |
| Forest | 3 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Nyabarongo wetlands are under serious pressure from agriculture and are completely unprotected.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Vande weghe (1981).