Data Zone
Country/territory: Rwanda
IBA criteria met: A1, A3 (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 30,000 hectares (300.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2018 | not assessed | high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
Akanyaru wetlands are located in the south of Rwanda, north-east of Butare, on the international border with Burundi, and lie close to Rwihinda Lake Nature Reserve in Burundi (BI001). The vegetation consists of a variety of marshy habitats and papyrus swamp. Early successional stages are occupied by floating vegetation dominated by Pistia stratiotes, Leersia hexandra and Oryza barthii. Intermediate stages are a mixture of Typha australis, Miscanthidium violaceum, Cladium jamaicense and some papyrus. More complex habitats are occupied by Typha australis, Miscanthidium violaceum, Cyperus denudatus, C. latifolius and Echinochloa pyramidalis. There are expanses of papyrus, either as pure stands or combined with shrubby vegetation. Average annual rainfall is estimated to be c.800 mm.
Key biodiversity
See Box and Table 3 for key species. At least 54 species of wetland habitats have been recorded from Akanyaru and include migrant Ardeola idae, Circus macrourus and Gallinago media. Falco naumanni has been reported. In addition, one species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome (A05) and three of the Afrotropical Highlands biome (A07) have been recorded (see Table 3).
Non-bird biodiversity: The mammal Tragelaphus spekii (LR/nt) is known to occur.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Akanyaru wetlands (Rwanda). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/akanyaru-wetlands-iba-rwanda on 23/12/2024.