Despite the country’s small size, the terrain, climate, and ecology of Burundi are characterized by remarkable diversity. According to a report from USAID, the country is home to an estimated 597 bird species, 203 mammalian species, 89 species of reptile, 49 species of amphibians, and over 300 species of fish, including four species of lungfish. Burundi also has numerous endemic plant species, many of which are found in the Albertine Rift Montane Forests [1].
Forests play a significant role in the provisioning of ecosystem services in Burundi, such as providing medicinal plants to local communities and the supply of fuelwood for cooking and heating [1], [2]. In the country, there are 3 major categories of forests and woodlands – Albertine Rift Montane Forest, Central Zambezian Wet Miombo Woodlands, and Victoria Basin Forest Savannah. The Albertine Rift Montane Forest, with high levels of biodiversity and endemism, is largely a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest, while the Miombo Woodlands and Victoria Basin Forest Savanna are a mix of tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands [1]. The Kibira National Park in Burundi represents one of the last remaining intact stretches of Afromontane forests in the region, providing an important habitat for many endemic species [3]. It is also a water catchment area for the hydrological basins of the Congo River and the Nile River [1].
Burundi also has a variety of aquatic ecosystems including marshes, lakes, ponds, and streams. The country contains over 1,180 km² of wetlands (5% of the country’s land cover), which are concentrated around Lake Tanganyika and the Ruvubu River in the East, and provide essential ecosystem services [1]. Lake Tanganyika is one of the largest lakes in the world, with at least 1,500 species of wildlife, 600 of which are endemic [3]. Approximately 8% of Lake Tanganyika is located within Burundi’s national boundaries and it is home to the country’s most important fishery, accounting for 66% of total fish exports [1].
Biodiversity is of paramount importance in Burundi, a country where over 90% of the population is dependent on biodiversity for agricultural products, fisheries, forests, and medicinal plants [3]. But Burundi’s biodiversity is being lost. For instance, between 2002 and 2009, Lake Tanganyika experienced a 60% decline in fishery production, partially driven by climate change. Further, many of the country’s iconic species are at risk of local or global extinction, including the eastern chimpanzee, leopard, and the white-bellied hippopotamus [1].