The Annotated Ramsar List: Burundi

The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance

BURUNDI

The Convention on Wetlands came into force for Burundi on 5 October 2002. Burundi presently has 1 site designated as a Wetland of International Importance, with a surface area of 1,000 hectares.

site; date of designation; region, province, state; surface area; coordinates
site; date de désignation; région, province, état; superficie; coordonnées
sitios; fecha de designación; región, provincia, estado; área; coordenadas

Delta de la Rusizi de la Réserve Naturelle de la Rusizi et la partie nord de la zone littorale du lac Tanganyika. 05/06/02; Bujumbura Rural; 1,000 ha; 03°20'S 029°20'E. Natural Reserve. Comprising the Rusizi delta and northern shore of Lake Tanganyika, part of the lower Rusizi plain shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, the site is considered an "ornithological paradise" for its stopover and nesting places for migratory waterbirds and makes an ecological connection between Lakes Tanganyika and Kivu. In addition to large numbers of aquatic birds, the site supports the reptiles crocodiles and tortoises in significant numbers and a fish life, dominated by the Cichlidae, which presents a marked endemicity - the lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus is also present. Among mammals the hippopotamus is most abundant, and the sitatunga or marshbuck (Tragelaphus spekei), becoming rare throughout Africa, can be found within the site. The use of cattails Typha domingensis in basketry forms an important source of revenue for local people, and customary fishing is practiced in the lakes of the delta. Rice and cotton growing is carried out in the surrounding area, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides is seen as a potential threat to the biodiversity of the delta and lake. Ramsar site no. 1180. Most recent RIS information: 2002.