The vegetation is a set of plants that cover the earth’s surface. Types of vegetation of Rwanda There are two main types of vegetation: Natural vegetation and Artificial vegetation.

1. Unit 7: Vegetation in
Rwanda

2. Introduction
The vegetation is a set of plants that cover the earth’s surface.
Types of vegetation of Rwanda
There are two main types of vegetation:
1. Natural vegetation and
2. Artificial vegetation.

3. Vegetation types of
Rwanda

4. Artificial vegetation
This is the vegetation that grows under human influence. Humans
plant this type of vegetation for various reasons. This is evidenced
by the various eucalyptus trees planted along the road sides and
on slopes that have been rehabilitated through reforestation
programs
This type of vegetation covers the greatest percentage of
the land. Artificial vegetation ranges from trees to low
crops and grasslands planted by humans as farmlands

5. The natural vegetation
Natural vegetation is that grown without man’s influence but as a
result of soil and climatic conditions.
Natural vegetation areas in Rwanda disappear at alarming rate due
to the influence of man’s activities: agriculture, mining,
overpopulation (settlement), industrialization, wood energy and
construction, timber for furniture making, ignorance about
importance of forest, etc. Nowadays it covers only 15% of the total
surface of Rwanda.
The major types of natural vegetation are:
• Savanna woodland and bushland,
• Mountain forest,
• High altitude grassland and

7. Savanna woodland and bushland
It is located in eastern
part of Rwanda mostly
in Akagera national
park and it is
composed by small
trees of 5-10m of
height like acacia trees
and low layer of green
grasses.
Akagera National Park
is the most ancient
park of Rwanda and it
extends in eastern
province in Nyagatare,
Kayonza and Gatsibo
districts.

8. It contains Akagera
National Park where there
is a varied rich fauna of a
big number of lakes and
animals.
Mammals (Buffalos, Elephants, Lions,
Antelopes, Zebras, Giraffes, Topi
“Impala”, Hippopotamuses, some
monkeys and apes, etc.), reptiles
(crocodiles, lizards, snakes, etc.) and

11. Reptiles in Akagera national park

13. Mountain forests
A forest is an
extensive piece of
land covered by
trees. Mountain
forests in Rwanda
are located in
highland of the
Congo-Nile crest
and the region of
Birunga. They are
thick and green
tropical rainforests
formed by tall trees
due to the high
rainfall.

14. Forests found in the Congo-Nile crest
• Nyungwe National Park: It was
created in 2005 with almost
1000km². It is the only large
tract of natural forest left in
Rwanda. It extends in the
western province (Rusizi,
Nyamasheke, Karongi districts)
and in southern province
(Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru
districts). It has 27 species of
birds and 13 species of monkeys
especially the Colobus
Angelensis Rwenzori (found
only in Rwanda with 300-400
individus) and apes such as
chimpanzees, baboons, and

15. Landsat image of Nyungwe Forest on
July 19, 1986

16. Canopy walk in Nyungwe national park

17. Tree species in Nyungwe forest

18. Animals in Nyungwe national Forest

19. Birds species in Nyungwe National park

21. It covers the small
area in Rusizi
district in western
province and it is
considered as an
extension of
Nyungwe National
Park with different
species of birds,
monkeys and other
animals.
Cyamudongo natural forest

23. It found in western
province in
Nyabihu, Rutsiro,
Rubavu districts. It
covered the area of
250 km².
Gishwati natural forest

25. It is located in
western province in
Karongi district
with 20km².
Mukura natural
forest

26. Gishwati and Mukura forests are close to
extinction with 80% destroyed by man’s activities
like farming, settlement and agriculture caused
by overpopulation of Rwanda.

27. 5. Birunga National
Park: It is the
forest which
covers the steep
slopes of
volcanoes. It
composition
follows the change
change of altitude:

28. Volcanoes national park

30. Classification of vegetation on the
volcanoes
1800-2500 m of altitude:
tropical rainforest or
mountain forest
2500-3500 m of altitude:
bamboo forest
3500-4000 m of altitude:
high altitude grassland
4000-4507 m of altitude:
moorland, rocks and
snow
Bare rocks
Alpine Vegetation
Bush grass/Moorland
Bamboo
Tropical forests
Savanna Grassland

33. • High altitude grassland: It is
found in the steep sides of
some volcanoes and the
other highlands in the
northern part of Rwanda. It
It is composed by dense
green grasses adapted to
high altitude.

34. 6. Swamp vegetation: It is
a thick vegetation
formed by different
species of aquatic
plants especially reeds
and papyrus.

41. Artificial forest
It is planted by people on the steep side and the tops of highland (hills and
and mountains) of Rwanda. Examples of species planted in Rwanda are
Eucalyptus, Greveria, cypress, cedars, etc. Some artificial forests are
composed only by species of trees found in natural forests of Rwanda that
that are in disappearance. Example: Arboretum forest.
Agroforestry: is an agricultural activity based on plantation of trees mixed
with crops. greveria, fruit trees, moringa oleifera, mesophis (umuhumuro),

42. Savanna grassland
It a vegetation of green low grasses that happen on the surface after
after destruction of natural vegetation by human activities or planted
planted by man as pasture.
In Rwanda, artificial savanna grassland is formed in fallow land, in the
in the pasture, and near the houses of people.
Crops
They are artificial vegetations that dominate in the surface land of
of Rwanda.
They are composed by the subsistence crops (beans, bananas,
cassava, maize, potatoes, wheat, sorghum, etc.) and the commercial
commercial or cash crops found in plantations (coffee, tea,
pyrethrum, sugar canes, flowers, etc.).
Artificial vegetation covers around 85% of the total surface area of
of Rwanda.

43. Discuss how the following factors influence vegetation distribution in
Rwanda
• Altitude: In the foot-hills of mountainous regions such as the lower parts of Mount Muhabura
and Karisimbi, savanna vegetation is in abundance. This so especially in areas that have not been
interfered with by humans. In higher altitudes, equatorial type of vegetation is found. Beyond
this zone, bamboo vegetation is evident. The bamboo is followed by short grasslands/alpine
grass and sometimes moorland.
• Drainage: In swampy areas along the bank of rivers, lake shores and marshy areas, vegetation
will thrive because they are near sources of water. In areas with little or moderate rainfall such
as in the Eastern region of the country, savanna grasslands are dominant.
• Climate: Areas which receive a lot of rainfall that is well distributed throughout the year support
dense vegetation of equatorial nature. This can be seen in some parts of Rwanda in areas like;
Nyungwe, Gishwati and the Birunga region. On the other hand, areas that experience low
rainfall totals such as Umutara, Nyagatare, Kayonza, and Bugesera have savanna vegetation.
• Soils: Areas with fertile soils such as the western and northern parts of the country have dense
vegetation. On the other hand, areas with poor soils have stunted or no vegetation. This kind of
vegetation is evident in the Eastern parts of Rwanda.
• Slope aspect: Slope aspect helps in determining the degree of exposure of vegetation to
sunshine which is very helpful for plant growth. Therefore, the parts of the slope that are
exposed to too much sunshine have dense vegetation than the opposite slope.
• Biotic factors: Biotic factors such as animals and diseases have a direct influence on vegetation.
A combination of animals such as birds, monkeys and other living organisms influence
vegetation distribution in an area. This is true because animals carry seeds of plants and
dispense them in different areas hence contributing to their spread. On the other hand diseases
and pests can lead to serious destruction of vegetation
• Human activities: Human activities play a role in the distribution of vegetation. In Rwanda, the
government initiatives have led to the planting of various vegetation ranging from crops to
trees under environmental conservation. On the other hand, human activities like deforestation

44. Source of raw materials
Source of cheap and available
fuel
Source of food
Modification of climate
Conservation of soils
Source of herbal medicine
Home for wildlife
Employment opportunities
Source of foreign exchange
Research purposes
Diversification of the
economy
Recreational activities
Source of capital in-flow
Source of revenue
Infrastructural development
Source of oxygen
Cleansing of the atmosphere
Importance of vegetation

45. Effects of deforestation in Rwanda
• It leads to the global worming
• Soil erosion in steep sides where trees have been cut
• Floods especially in valleys may occur during the rainy
seasons
• Silting up of water bodies especially Lakes and rivers
• Formation of low rainfall (drought) may lead to the
desertification of the country
• The loss of soil fertility

46. Causes of destruction of vegetation in Rwanda
The harsh climatic conditions
High population
Lumbering
Urbanisation
Improper farming methods
Natural causes
Biotic factors like diseases and insects
Overgrazing and search for animal feeds
Infrastructural development
Fuel needs
Fire outbreaks

47. Possible solutions to problems of
deforestation
• Training of people about the forest management
• Afforestation and re-afforestation
• Control of bush fire
• Introduction of an alternative source of fuel such as biogas, solar
energy, hydroelectricity than firewood and charcoal
• Establishing forest reserves and game parks
• Control of pest and insects by using insecticides as well as cutting
and burning of affected trees
• Employing forest rangers and wardens to protect forest reserves and
parks from poachers and fire outbreaks
• Enforcing rules and regulations governing forests in order to punish
who misuses the vegetation in Rwanda.

49. The specific examples of natural vegetation in Rwanda include;
• Nyungwe Forest,
• Gishwati Forest,
• Mukura Forest,
• Birunga Bamboo Forest and moorland
• Akagera grasslands.

50. Revision questions
1. Draw a sketch map of Rwanda. On it, locate the vegetation zones
zones of Rwanda
2. Explain the factors responsible for the distribution of vegetation in
vegetation in Rwanda.
3. Examine the importance of vegetation in the socio-economic
development of Rwanda
4. Discuss the causes of the depletion of vegetation in Rwanda.
5. Discuss the vegetation conservation measures that the Rwanda
Rwanda government advocates for.
6. Distinguish between natural vegetation and artificial vegetation in
vegetation in relation to Rwanda.
7. “Rwanda has experienced human exploitation of vegetation
without consideration of sustainable utilization.” Using relevant
relevant examples, support this statement