by Leigh Kemp, 1 December 2006

Rwanda is best known today for two things: gorillas and genocide. Fortunately the latter is part of history and the country can concentrate on the former. As one of the best places to view the mountain gorillas, and with spectacular scenery and a rich diversity of species, Rwanda is fast gaining a reputation on the tourism map.

But why is Rwanda so blessed? It has all to do with its location on the African continent. Rwanda lies on the eastern rim of the geological phenomenon known as the Albertine Rift.

The Great Rift Valley

The Great Rift Valley stretches almost 5000km from the Arabian Peninsula, through east Africa into the northern reaches of Mozambique. It is the result of the separation of the African and Arabian tectonic plates, a process that began around 35 million years ago in the north. The process is continued by the ongoing separation of East Africa from the rest of Africa along the East African Rift.

In East Africa the rift is characterised by two distinct separations, the eastern rift - which is what most people think of when they hear the term 'rift valley' - and the little known western rift, known as the Albertine Rift.

The Albertine Rift stretches from the northern end of Lake Albert to the southern end of Lake Tanganyika extending through the countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Tanzania.

It is one of Africa's most important biodiversity conservation sites. This rift incorporates the ice fields on top of the Rwenzori Mountains, active volcanoes, hotsprings, bamboo, alpine vegetation, montane forest, savanna and the lowland forests of Semuliki. The snow-capped Ruwenzori Mountains form one of the largest and most significant catchment areas in Uganda, and are the most permanent source of the White Nile.

Centerpoint of Africa

The Albertine Rift forms the epicenter of Africa's montane rainforest circle. Both its fauna and flora have links to the west and southwest with Cameroon and Angola, to the northeast with the Kenyan Highlands, and the southeast with the Eastern Arc Mountains, and ultimately via the Malawi Rift with southern Africa.

On the western side it abuts the Guinea-Congolian lowland rainforest. Collectively, its central location within Africa, juxtaposition of habitats, and prevalent altitudinal zonation, makes the Albertine Rift globally outstanding for its high species diversity and large numbers of endemics; highlighted by the ecoregion containing the world's last population of Mountain Gorilla. (Dowsett 1986, Kingdon 1989).

Species diversity

Covering only 1% of the African continent's landmass, the Albertine Rift nevertheless contains more than 50% of mainland Africa's bird species and almost 40% of its mammal species. The Albertine Rift area also contains more endemic mammals, birds and amphibians than any other site in mainland Africa.

Despite making up such a small percentage of the total landmass of Africa the Albertine Rift also contains almost 15% of Africa's plant species.

Protected areas in the Albertine Rift

There are a number of sites in the Albertine Rift that are protected as National Parks, Wildlife Reserves or Forest Reserves, represented in all the countries. Some of the better known national parks include:

• Virunga NP, DRC
• Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Uganda
• Rwenzori Mountains NP, Uganda
• Queen Elizabeth NP, Uganda
• Kibale NP, Uganda
• Virunga Volcanoes, DRC, Rwanda, Uganda
• Nyungwe NP, Rwanda
• Kahuzi Biega NP, DRC

Threats

The Albertine Rift area has one of the highest human population densities in Africa resulting in huge pressures on the forests and savannas in this region through mass small-scale farming, hunting and deforestation. Civil wars in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the genocide in Rwanda, have also made it difficult for the protected area authorities to manage the parks and reserves in this region.

With an increase in tourism and the realization of the importance of the area, protection will increase and funding will be become more freely available. However, unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo is still of great concern for the future of the Albertine Rift area.

The future

The area is an important watershed for the supply of clean water to the communities living not only in the vicinity but those in farther reaches and the lakes are the most productive in Africa necessitating strict conservation measures.

The increase in tourism to the area should provide the push needed to overcome any negative ideas associated with this incredible wilderness destination.

Article © Copyright 2006 Go2Africa.

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