Rwanda has seven Important Birding Areas (IBAs) including the three National Parks: Volcanoes, Akagera and Nyungwe, Rugezi Swamp, Akanyaru, Nyabarongo and Cyamudongo. The wetlands and lakes of Akagera National Park are home to the elusive Shoebill stork, and is one of the easiest sites in the region where it can be seen.

Currently we are aware that the estate of the world’s biodiversity, reflected by its birds, is still getting worse, this is a signal of wider environmental problems, and of the erosion of biodiversity as a whole.

The location of Rwanda in the Albertine Rift and its mountains dense forests create a unique and remarkable environment for the ecotourist to enjoy. Though small (about 250km east-west by 150km north-south) it has a bird list of over 700 species and supports the second highest number of Albertine Rift endemics than any other country.

Humans are responsible for the threats to birds. Expanding and intensifying agriculture and forestry destroy and degrade habitats. Inadequately managed fisheries, ever-spreading infrastructure, invasive alien species, pollution and overexploitation all pose serious problems. Climate change, with impacts already visible such as flooding: in 2012 the country has undergone horrible flood disasters which have destroy infrastructures, take a way lives of people, and kill animals and plants. These threats have deeper causes, rooted in our failure to accord wild nature its true value.

We can conserve bird’s biodiversity, if we have the will. Moving forward we need to link biodiversity more clearly to people’s livelihoods and well-being, to build constituencies for change, and to look after both key sites and the wider landscape. Birds are showing the way, and also helping us to keep track of progress.