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Albertine Rift montane forests

April 29, 2023

The Albertine Rift montane forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in east-central Africa. The ecoregion covers the mountains of the northern Albertine Rift, and is home to distinct Afromontane forests with high biodiversity.[2][3][4]

Albertine Rift montane forests
Ecoregion territory (in yellow)
Ecology
BiomeTropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Borders
List
Bird species732[1]
Mammal species228[1]
Geography
Area103,900 km2 (40,100 sq mi)
Countries
List
Coordinates2°45′S 29°08′E / 2.75°S 29.14°E / -2.75; 29.14Coordinates: 2°45′S 29°08′E / 2.75°S 29.14°E / -2.75; 29.14
Conservation
Habitat loss27.433%[1]
Protected12.48%[1]

Geography

The high montane forests cover the western portions of Rwanda and Burundi, the eastern edge of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and portions of western Uganda and Tanzania. This area occupies the parallel Albertine Rift Mountains that enclose the western branch of the East African Rift. The mountain ranges include the Lendu Plateau of Uganda (the forest is almost completely cleared from here), and the Virunga Mountains and Rwenzori Mountains of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

At the highest elevations of the Rwenzori and Virunga ranges (above 3000 meters), the forests transition to the Afroalpine Rwenzori–Virunga montane moorlands ecoregion, including the high peaks of Mount Stanley and Mount Karisimbi. The highest peak in Burundi, Mount Heha however is in this ecoregion.

Urban areas and settlements

Developed and settled areas in the region include:

Flora and fauna

The mountain rainforests of the ecoregion have a cooler climate than the Congolian lowland forests or the savanna of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, and therefore are home to a rich variety of Afromontane flora and especially fauna. The Albertine Rift montane forests are included on the Global 200 conservation list.

The rare mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) survives only in this ecoregion as do the L'Hoest's monkey, and a subspecies of the Hamlyn's monkey − as well as many endemic species of butterflies and birds including: Grauer's warblers, Chapin's flycatchers, and the Rwenzori turaco. The Lendu Plateau clawed frog is endemic to that landform in the ecoregion.

Conservation

Much of the forest has already been cleared for agriculture or for logging, especially in densely populated Rwanda and Burundi, but large areas of forest still remains in forest reserves and at higher altitudes in the Virunga, Itombwe, and Rwenzori Ranges. The forest clearance is ongoing and is a major threat to the ecology of the region, and to the forests as an important carbon store.[5]

The violent political and rebel history of the region in recent times has also caused damage to the ecological balance, for example almost eliminating the population of African bush elephants from Virunga National Park in the DRC.

Protected areas

11.93% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include:[3]

Recreation

Visitor activities in the ecoregion's habitats include:

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hoekstra, J. M.; Molnar, J. L.; Jennings, M.; Revenga, C.; Spalding, M. D.; Boucher, T. M.; Robertson, J. C.; Heibel, T. J.; Ellison, K. (2010). Molnar, J. L. (ed.). The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-26256-0.
  2. ^ "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Albertine Rift montane forests". DOPA Explorer. Accessed 22 March 2022. [1]
  4. ^ "Albertine Rift montane forests". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  5. ^ Cuni-Sanchez, Aida; Sullivan, Martin J. P.; Platts, Philip J.; Lewis, Simon L.; Marchant, Rob; Imani, Gérard; Hubau, Wannes; Abiem, Iveren; Adhikari, Hari; Albrecht, Tomas; Altman, Jan (2021-08-25). "High aboveground carbon stock of African tropical montane forests". Nature. 596 (7873): 536–542. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03728-4. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 34433947. S2CID 237307786. Archived from the original on 11 Aug 2021.

External links

  • "Albertine Rift montane forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  • Albertinerift.org: Albertine Rift Programme — of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
  • UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre.org: Volcanoes National Park
  • Bebif.be: Albertine Rift Projects — of the Royal Museum for Central Africa − including native birds, butterflies, fish, & family Rubiaceae plants.

April 29, 2023
albertine, rift, montane, forests, tropical, moist, broadleaf, forest, ecoregion, east, central, africa, ecoregion, covers, mountains, northern, albertine, rift, home, distinct, afromontane, forests, with, high, biodiversity, bwindi, impenetrable, forest, ugan. The Albertine Rift montane forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in east central Africa The ecoregion covers the mountains of the northern Albertine Rift and is home to distinct Afromontane forests with high biodiversity 2 3 4 Albertine Rift montane forestsBwindi Impenetrable Forest in UgandaEcoregion territory in yellow EcologyBiomeTropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forestsBordersList Northern Congolian forest savanna mosaicEast Sudanian savannaVictoria Basic forest savanna mosaicCentral Zambezian miombo woodlandsSouthern Congolian forest savanna mosaicNortheast Congolian lowland forestsRwenzori Virunga montane moorlandsBird species732 1 Mammal species228 1 GeographyArea103 900 km2 40 100 sq mi CountriesList BurundiDemocratic Republic of the CongoRwandaTanzaniaUgandaCoordinates2 45 S 29 08 E 2 75 S 29 14 E 2 75 29 14 Coordinates 2 45 S 29 08 E 2 75 S 29 14 E 2 75 29 14ConservationHabitat loss27 433 1 Protected12 48 1 Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Urban areas and settlements 2 Flora and fauna 3 Conservation 3 1 Protected areas 4 Recreation 5 References 6 External linksGeography EditThe high montane forests cover the western portions of Rwanda and Burundi the eastern edge of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and portions of western Uganda and Tanzania This area occupies the parallel Albertine Rift Mountains that enclose the western branch of the East African Rift The mountain ranges include the Lendu Plateau of Uganda the forest is almost completely cleared from here and the Virunga Mountains and Rwenzori Mountains of Rwanda Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo At the highest elevations of the Rwenzori and Virunga ranges above 3000 meters the forests transition to the Afroalpine Rwenzori Virunga montane moorlands ecoregion including the high peaks of Mount Stanley and Mount Karisimbi The highest peak in Burundi Mount Heha however is in this ecoregion Urban areas and settlements Edit Developed and settled areas in the region include Uganda the market town of Fort Portal base for watching chimpanzees in Kibale National Park and hub for visiting the Ruwenzori mountains to the north Rwanda Ruhengeri near the Volcanoes National Park and the Lake Kivu towns of Gisenyi Kibuye for boats trips to Napoleon Island in the lake and Cyangugu base for watching primates in the Nyungwe Forest Democratic Republic of the Congo the Lake Kivu cities of Goma opposite Gisenyi and the base for visiting Virunga National Park and Bukavu opposite Cyangugu and near the Kahuzi Biega National Park which is home to mountain gorillas but endangered due to the conflict in the region see Second Congo War Burundi the northwestern towns of Cibitoke and flood ravaged Bubanza and the southern city of Bururi where Bururi Forest Nature Reserve preserves some of the Afromontane forest Flora and fauna EditThe mountain rainforests of the ecoregion have a cooler climate than the Congolian lowland forests or the savanna of Uganda Rwanda and Burundi and therefore are home to a rich variety of Afromontane flora and especially fauna The Albertine Rift montane forests are included on the Global 200 conservation list The rare mountain gorilla Gorilla beringei beringei survives only in this ecoregion as do the L Hoest s monkey and a subspecies of the Hamlyn s monkey as well as many endemic species of butterflies and birds including Grauer s warblers Chapin s flycatchers and the Rwenzori turaco The Lendu Plateau clawed frog is endemic to that landform in the ecoregion Conservation EditMuch of the forest has already been cleared for agriculture or for logging especially in densely populated Rwanda and Burundi but large areas of forest still remains in forest reserves and at higher altitudes in the Virunga Itombwe and Rwenzori Ranges The forest clearance is ongoing and is a major threat to the ecology of the region and to the forests as an important carbon store 5 The violent political and rebel history of the region in recent times has also caused damage to the ecological balance for example almost eliminating the population of African bush elephants from Virunga National Park in the DRC Protected areas Edit 11 93 of the ecoregion is in protected areas Protected areas include 3 Bururi Forest Nature Reserve Burundi Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda Gishwati Mukura National Park Rwanda Kahuzi Biega National Park Democratic Republic of the Congo Kazinga Wildlife Sanctuary Uganda Kibale National Park Uganda Kibira National Park Burundi Kisimba Ikobo Primate Nature Reserve Democratic Republic of the Congo Kyambura Wildlife Reserve Uganda Mahale Mountains National Park Tanzania Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda Monge Forest Nature Reserve Burundi Nyungwe National Park Rwanda Rusizi National Park Burundi Rwenzori Mountains National Park Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda Semuliki National Park Uganda Tayna Nature Reserve Democratic Republic of the Congo Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve Uganda Virunga National Park Democratic Republic of the Congo Volcanoes National Park RwandaRecreation EditVisitor activities in the ecoregion s habitats include Mountain gorilla watching in the 434 square kilometres 168 sq mi Virunga Conservation Area VCA of the Virunga Mountains which includes Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda former base of zoologist Dian Fossey Kibale National Park in Uganda Trekking in the Rwenzori Mountains and within Ruwenzori Mountains National Park References Edit a b c d Hoekstra J M Molnar J L Jennings M Revenga C Spalding M D Boucher T M Robertson J C Heibel T J Ellison K 2010 Molnar J L ed The Atlas of Global Conservation Changes Challenges and Opportunities to Make a Difference University of California Press ISBN 978 0 520 26256 0 Map of Ecoregions 2017 Resolve Retrieved August 20 2021 a b Albertine Rift montane forests DOPA Explorer Accessed 22 March 2022 1 Albertine Rift montane forests The Encyclopedia of Earth Retrieved August 20 2021 Cuni Sanchez Aida Sullivan Martin J P Platts Philip J Lewis Simon L Marchant Rob Imani Gerard Hubau Wannes Abiem Iveren Adhikari Hari Albrecht Tomas Altman Jan 2021 08 25 High aboveground carbon stock of African tropical montane forests Nature 596 7873 536 542 doi 10 1038 s41586 021 03728 4 ISSN 0028 0836 PMID 34433947 S2CID 237307786 Archived from the original on 11 Aug 2021 External links Edit Albertine Rift montane forests Terrestrial Ecoregions World Wildlife Fund Albertinerift org Albertine Rift Programme of the Wildlife Conservation Society The Rwanda Tourist Board ORTPN UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre org Volcanoes National Park Footprint Adventures uk The Virunga Primates Bebif be Albertine Rift Projects of the Royal Museum for Central Africa including native birds butterflies fish amp family Rubiaceae plants Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Albertine Rift montane forests amp oldid 1139939613, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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