Albertine Rift montane forests
| Albertine Rift montane forests | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Ecology | |
| Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
| Borders | |
| Bird species | 732 |
| Mammal species | 228 |
| Geography | |
| Area | 103,900 km2 (40,100 sq mi) |
| Countries | Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda |
| Conservation | |
| Habitat loss | 27.433% |
| Protected | 12.48% |
The Albertine Rift montane forests ecoregion, of the Tropical moist broadleaf forest Biome, are in the heart of Afromontane tropical Africa.
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 (although here the forest has almost completely been cleared), Virunga Mountains, and Rwenzori Mountains. 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.
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 rare mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) survives only in this ecoregion as do L'Hoest's monkey and a sub-species of Hamlyn's monkey as well as many species of butterflies, and birds including Grauer's warblers, Chapin's flycatchers, and the Ruwenzori turaco. The montane forests are included on the Global 200 list.
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