Original Research Article I Volume 11 I Issue 3 I 2023

The significance of Ruzizi Delta: Rusizi Burundian Delta and Ruzizi Congolese Delta, in the Great Lakes Region, for the Conservation of Birds

Bashonga Bishobibiri Alexis Doctoral School of University of Burundi and Centre for Research in Hydrobiology (CRH) at Uvira, DRC ; Bashonga Bishobibiri Alexis1*, Eric Sande Majaliwa Mwanjololo; Charles Kahindo; Claver Sibomana

Biolife, Volume 11, Issue 3, 2023, pp 40-57

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8360860

Abstract:

The significance of the Ruzizi Delta: Rusizi Burundian Delta (RBD) and Ruzizi Congolese Delta (RCD), in the Great Lakes Region for bird conservation was investigated from April 2019 to November 2021 in five sites of the RBD and five sites of the RCD. The investigation was conducted by direct observation on transects counts, counting points and on bird species recognition routes using binoculars and two telescopes. Travels were facilitated by the motorized fiberglass boat and the double cabin field vehicle of the Centre for Research in Hydrobiology (CRH) in Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). At the end of our investigations, we drew up the list of 490 species divided into 84 families and 18 orders. The following groups were listed: (i) 359 species of resident birds, of which 74 (21%) were recorded in the RCD, 148 (41%) in the RBD and 137 species (38%) were recorded both in the RCD and the RBD; (ii) 131 migrant bird species, of which 24 (18%) were recorded only in the RCD, 44 (34%) in the RBD and 63 species (48%) were recorded both in the RCD and the RBD; (iii) 176 water bird species, of which 26 (15%) were only recorded in the RCD, 49 (28%) in the RBD and 101 (57%) were recorded both in the RCD and the RBD; (iv) 238 (49%) Ramsar bird species for the criteria A1, A2, A3, A4i, A4ii and A4iv, among them, 29 (12%) species were only recorded in the RCD, 107 ( 45%) in the RBD and 102 species (43%) recorded in both the RCD and the RBD; (v) 21 species (4%) of birds with IUCN (International Union for Nature Conservation) status, of which only one species (Limosa limosa, Black-tailed Godwit) was recorded only in the RCD, 13 (62%) were only recorded in the RBD and 7 species (33%) were recorded both in the RCD and the RBD; Finally, the research pinpointed 60 newly recorded bird species in the Ruzizi Delta, of which four 4 (7%) were recorded only in the RCD, 37 (61%) in the RBD and 19 species (32%) were recorded in both the RCD and the RBD. The sustainability of all these species and their groups in the Ruzizi Delta requires the protection of the wetlands of the Ruzizi Congolese Delta as a community reserve and potential Ramsar site which will be submitted by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) to the Ramsar Secretariat for designation as a Ruzizi Congolese Delta Ramsar site.

Keywords:

Significance of the Ruzizi Delta; Ruzizi Congolese Delta; Rusizi Burundian Delta; Bird conservation; Great Lakes region.

References:

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Article Dates:

Received: 14 July 2023; Accepted: 28 August 2023: Published online: 18 September 2023

How To Cite:

Bashonga Bishobibiri Alexis, Bashonga Bishobibiri Alexis1*, Eric Sande Majaliwa Mwanjololo, Charles Kahindo, & Claver Sibomana. (2023). The significance of Ruzizi Delta: Rusizi Burundian Delta and Ruzizi Congolese Delta, in the Great Lakes Region, for the Conservation of Birds. Biolife, 11(3), 40–57. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8360860

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