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Site description (2022 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA is located in the Western Kenya, Homabay county, 10 kilometers east of the Lake Victoria. It is located in Lambwe river Valley between the Kanyamwa Escarpment and the Gwasi Hills
Ruma’s pristine nature makes it a suitable home to a wide variety of biodiversity. It is the only protected area in Kenya where Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea), a globally vulnerable and scarce intra-African migrant, is regularly recorded.It is the last remaining sanctuary for the nationally endangered Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) in Kenya. The IBA is an important bird watching destination hosting more than 200 bird species.
The IBA is characterized by a diverse environment which varies from the savannah, towering cliffs, woodland, acacia thickets, volcanic plugs to riverine woodland. The sorounding landscape is dominated by human settlements and intense cultivation.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The threats include habitat loss and degradation caused by clearance of forests around the park and grasslands for agriculture, settlements, and infrastructural development. Other threats include human wildlife conflict, forest fires, and poaching which is a major concern, particularly for large mammals such as the Roan antelope. Climate change is affecting the KBA in various ways, including changes in unpredictable rainfall among other weather patterns. Ruma National Park has been reportedly been a breeding ground of tsetse flies increasing the prevalence of Trypanosome species in cattle in the neighboring communities.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Efforts are being made to address the different threats to ensure the long-term survival of Ruma National Park. The Roan antelope species recovery plan was launched by KWS in 2020 to address the steady reduction in the species population. The park is now enclosed by an electric fence to prevent wildlife from straying outside the park, protect the park's vegetation from being destroyed by domestic animals and help prevent human wildlife conflicts. Other initiatives to conserve the IBA include involvement of local communities in conservation and ecotourism activities, habitat restoration, and education and awareness campaigns. A local community group on the forefront of spear heading the initiatives is Ruma Site Support Group – a Nature Kenya community conservation group partner.
The SSG plays a key role in ensuring the well-being of the IBA. It consists of individuals living adjacent to the IBA. Their activities include county policy influencing, climate smart agriculture such as participating in bee keeping, having established fruit trees nurseries, woodlots on farms, and creating small water pans useful in water conservation especially during the dry periods; environmental education and awareness; biodiversity monitoring; and act as watchdogs raising alarm in cases such as fire outbreaks. The SSG’s broad membership has enabled them to advocate for restoration of the neighboring, heavily degraded habitats such as Gwasi Hills and Lambwe forest which are important water catchment areas.
Ruma National Park is protected by the Kenya Wildlife Service
Sorounding landscape is privately owned while the park is owned and managed by the government through th Kenya Wildlife Service. Forests adjacent to the park are manned by th e Kenya forest Service.
Site access / Land-owner requests
Site access is granted by the Kenya Wildlife Service
Much appreciations to the Kenya wildlife service among other government stakeholders, Nature Kenya, the site support group among other community groups and private entities who are tirelessly working to ensure that Ruma National Park Survives to benefit more and more generations to come.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ruma National Park (Kenya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ruma-national-park-iba-kenya on 23/11/2024.
