105:
112:
338:
29:
325:(1998-2003) and subsequent instability many displaced people have entered the region. The region has been the scene of struggles between different armed groups, causing severe humanitarian and environmental problems. NGOs have been attempting to help local communities recover and develop sustainable agricultural and practices while conserving the forest. The major mining center of
253:. Rudolf Grauer spent three months in the mountains in 1908, collecting twelve gorillas for the Vienna Museum. A survey in 1996 estimated that there were at least 860 gorillas in the massif. The Grauer population of gorillas in the Itombwe mountains and the region to the north and west is one of three gorilla populations in East Africa, the others being the
221:
The
Itombwe Forest of the southern Rift covers a huge area that has had little attention from botanists. Montane forest covers around 650,000 hectares (1,600,000 acres) above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), the largest block of such forest in the region. The forest is patchy on the east slopes. On the
193:
in the south. They are made up of uplifted Pre-Cambrian basement rocks overlaid in places by recent volcanic activity. Both of these are caused by the forces that created the Great Rift Valley, where tectonic stresses are causing parts of East Africa to separate from the continent. The highest peak
361:
in 2000 since they are a globally important biodiversity region for birds, mammals and reptiles. At first it was expected that they would be covered by a conservation program for the
Albertine Rift. By 2006 it had been accepted that they should be included in a program specifically for the DRC. In
212:
Temperatures range from about 50 °F (10 °C) to 70 °F (21 °C), with a mean temperature of about 60 °F (16 °C) all year round. Frost is occasionally experienced at night. Average annual precipitation is around 65 inches (1,700 mm). There is a relatively cool, dry
264:
The survey recorded fifty-six species of mammals. A type of shrew that has only been collected once is most likely the oldest of all shrew species in Africa. The
Itombwe Mountains are much the most important part of the Albertine Rift Highlands for bird conservation, being home to 32 of the 37
349:
as conservation areas. As of 2010 the mountains were inaccessible to tourists. In some areas they have low human populations and the environment is relatively undisturbed. However, the population around the forest is growing, the forest around the villages is being cleared for agriculture and
350:
firewood, and the grasslands at higher levels are used to graze cattle. Mining and hunting are other causes of stress to the environment. Perhaps the main concern of conservationists is that the forests, which are the largest and least fragmented in the region, may be logged.
373:
A book published in 2011 said the
Itombwe Massif was undergoing severe destruction. Law and order had broken down. People were moving in to grow crops or to mine for gold, diamonds and columbo-tantalite, which is used in semiconductors and computer chips.
585:
265:
species of bird endemic to the highlands. They include the most important site in the region for montane forest birds, with 565 species identified. Of these, 31 are endemic to the
Albertine Rift and three have only been found here.
293:
people, with population densities in 1998 of over 100 people per square kilometer. Population densities on the western slope and the high plateau of
Itombwe are lower at between 10 and 20 people per square kilometer. The related
370:. The declaration did not define the completely protected core zone, mixed-use zones and development zones but left settlement of the zone boundaries to a later process involving consultation with the local communities.
975:
104:
824:
222:
west there is an exceptional progression of bamboo, montane forest, grassland, and then more montane forest with a canopy reaching 25 metres (82 ft) blending into lowland forest.
363:
201:, at 3,475 metres (11,401 ft). Several other peaks are higher than 3,000 metres (9,800 ft). The mountains drop sharply in the east to the Ruzizi plain bordering
845:"The Itombwe Massif, Democratic Republic of Congo: biological surveys and conservation, with an emphasis on Grauer's gorilla and birds endemic to the Albertine Rift"
345:
The range is still not protected, although there have been proposals to designate all the montane forest and two patches of lowland forest to the south of the upper
828:
970:
950:
902:
761:
740:
771:
Doumenge, C. (Aug 1998). "Forest
Diversity, Distribution, and Dynamique in the Itombwe Mountains, South-Kivu, Congo Democratic Republic".
545:
231:
800:
942:
Landscape-scale conservation in the Congo Basin: lessons learned from the
Central African Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE)
710:
929:
881:
254:
61:
158:
141:
310:), who migrated from present-day Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania have moved into the territory starting in the 19th century. The
843:
I. Omari; J. A. Hart; T. M. Butynski; N. R. Birhashirwa; A. Upoki; Y. M'keyo; F. Bengana; M. Bashonga; N. Bagurubumwe (1999).
626:
54:
366:(ICCN), helped by the (WWF), had managed to obtain a declaration from the DRC Ministry of Environment that created the
337:
985:
354:
178:
209:
rises in the mountains, which are covered by forest except where rock bluffs emerge from the steepest slopes.
194:
of the
Albertine Rift Mountains is further north in the Rwenzori Mountains, at 5,100 metres (16,700 ft).
28:
242:
367:
258:
250:
980:
586:"Cows and guns. Cattle-related conflict and armed violence in Fizi and Itombwe, eastern DR Congo*"
788:
186:
166:
916:
Biodiversity in sub-saharan Africa and its islands: conservation, management and sustainable use
198:
921:
946:
925:
898:
877:
757:
751:
736:
607:
358:
246:
190:
182:
940:
871:
730:
892:
856:
808:
780:
597:
322:
714:
202:
162:
914:
278:
546:"Les grandes lignes des migrations des Bantus de la province orientale du Congo belge"
964:
861:
844:
571:
Enjeux des conflits ethniques dans les hauts plateaux d’Itombwe au Sud - Kivu (Zaïre)
286:
315:
303:
290:
274:
346:
206:
625:
Mararo, Stanislas
Bucyalimwe (2005). Marysse, Stefaan; Ryntjens, Filip (eds.).
230:
602:
154:
137:
825:"Rehabilitation of sustainable agricultural production around Itombwe forest"
611:
76:
63:
690:
326:
792:
753:
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests: Science for Conservation and Management
299:
282:
750:
Bruijnzeel, Leendert Adriaan; Scatena, F. N.; Hamilton, L. S. (2011).
573:(in French). Tervuren, Belgium: Institut Africain CEDAF. pp. 6–7.
311:
295:
44:
784:
627:"Kivu and Ituri in the Congo War: The Roots and Nature of a Linkage"
205:. They form a plateau that slopes down more gently to the west. The
353:
The Itombwe mountains were given a high conservation priority at a
891:
Stoinski, Tara S.; Steklis, Horst D.; Mehlman, Patrick T. (2007).
307:
229:
476:
474:
527:
525:
417:
415:
161:(DRC). They run along the west shore of the northern part of
153:(or Itombwe Massif, Plateau) are a range of mountains in the
894:
Conservation in the 21st century: gorillas as a case study
939:
Yanggen, David; Angu, Kenneth; Tchamou, Nicodème (2010).
673:
632:. New York, United States: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 8
449:
447:
434:
432:
430:
976:
Mountain ranges of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
492:
402:
400:
398:
396:
394:
392:
390:
388:
386:
16:
Mountain range in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
364:
Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature
329:is near the north-west edge of the montane forest.
133:
92:
53:
43:
38:
21:
913:
661:
584:Verweijen, Judith; Brabant, Justine (March 2017).
551:(in French). Brussels, Belgium: G. van Campenhout
213:season with little rain between June and August.
649:
465:
169:and are home to a rich diversity of wildlife.
531:
504:
8:
480:
273:The northern Itombwe region is inhabited by
516:
177:The Itombwe mountains are a section of the
438:
165:. They contain a vast area of contiguous
18:
912:Stuart, S. N.; Adams, Richard J. (1990).
860:
601:
197:The highest peak in the Itombwe range is
181:, which border the western branch of the
111:
729:Briggs, Philip; Roberts, Andrew (2010).
713:. BirdLife International. Archived from
453:
421:
406:
336:
674:Bruijnzeel, Scatena & Hamilton 2011
382:
341:Babembe village on the Itombwe plateau
732:Uganda, 6th Bradt Travel Guide Uganda
590:The Journal of Modern African Studies
318:and on the shore of Lake Tanganyika.
241:The mountains are home to endangered
7:
493:Stoinski, Steklis & Mehlman 2007
185:. These mountains extend from the
14:
773:Mountain Research and Development
862:10.1046/j.1365-3008.1999.00076.x
801:"Climate Data Itombwe Mountains"
691:"Albertine Rift montane forests"
662:Yanggen, Angu & Tchamou 2010
159:Democratic Republic of the Congo
142:Democratic Republic of the Congo
124:Democratic Republic of the Congo
110:
103:
27:
876:. University of Chicago Press.
33:Miki, on the plateau of Itombwe
971:Albertine Rift montane forests
756:. Cambridge University Press.
1:
49:3,475 m (11,401 ft)
870:Schaller, George B. (1988).
1002:
355:World Wide Fund for Nature
302:people live in this area.
823:IUCN Netherlands (2006).
711:"CD014 Itombwe Mountains"
603:10.1017/S0022278X16000823
532:Briggs & Roberts 2010
505:Briggs & Roberts 2010
357:(WWF) conference held in
321:With the conflict of the
97:
26:
544:Moeller, Alfred (1936).
243:Eastern lowland gorillas
236:Gorilla beringei graueri
234:Eastern lowland gorilla
179:Albertine Rift Mountains
873:The Year of the Gorilla
735:. Bradt Travel Guides.
517:Stuart & Adams 1990
695:Terrestrial Ecoregions
368:Itombwe Nature Reserve
342:
251:African bush elephants
238:
697:. World Wildlife Fund
650:IUCN Netherlands 2006
340:
233:
466:Climate Data Itombwe
189:in the north to the
77:3.50000°S 28.91667°E
483:, pp. 301–322.
424:, pp. 249–264.
333:Conservation issues
314:people live in the
73: /
569:Muchukiwa, Bosco.
343:
239:
187:Rwenzori Mountains
82:-3.50000; 28.91667
39:Highest point
986:Great Rift Valley
952:978-2-8317-1288-8
904:978-0-387-70720-4
763:978-0-521-76035-5
742:978-1-84162-309-2
709:Birdlife (2011).
359:Libreville, Gabon
191:Marungu highlands
183:East African Rift
151:Itombwe Mountains
147:
146:
118:Itombwe Mountains
22:Itombwe Mountains
993:
956:
935:
920:. IUCN. p.
919:
908:
887:
866:
864:
839:
837:
836:
827:. Archived from
819:
817:
816:
807:. Archived from
796:
767:
746:
725:
723:
722:
705:
703:
702:
677:
671:
665:
659:
653:
647:
641:
640:
638:
637:
631:
622:
616:
615:
605:
581:
575:
574:
566:
560:
559:
557:
556:
550:
541:
535:
529:
520:
514:
508:
502:
496:
490:
484:
481:Omari et al 1999
478:
469:
463:
457:
451:
442:
436:
425:
419:
410:
404:
323:Second Congo War
157:province of the
114:
113:
107:
88:
87:
85:
84:
83:
78:
74:
71:
70:
69:
66:
31:
19:
1001:
1000:
996:
995:
994:
992:
991:
990:
961:
960:
959:
953:
938:
932:
911:
905:
890:
884:
869:
842:
834:
832:
822:
814:
812:
799:
785:10.2307/3674036
770:
764:
749:
743:
728:
720:
718:
708:
700:
698:
689:
685:
680:
672:
668:
660:
656:
648:
644:
635:
633:
629:
624:
623:
619:
583:
582:
578:
568:
567:
563:
554:
552:
548:
543:
542:
538:
530:
523:
515:
511:
503:
499:
491:
487:
479:
472:
464:
460:
452:
445:
437:
428:
420:
413:
405:
384:
380:
335:
271:
228:
219:
203:Lake Tanganyika
175:
163:Lake Tanganyika
129:
128:
127:
126:
125:
122:
121:
120:
119:
115:
81:
79:
75:
72:
67:
64:
62:
60:
59:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
999:
997:
989:
988:
983:
978:
973:
963:
962:
958:
957:
951:
936:
930:
909:
903:
888:
882:
867:
855:(4): 301–322.
840:
820:
797:
779:(3): 249–264.
768:
762:
747:
741:
726:
706:
686:
684:
681:
679:
678:
676:, p. 168.
666:
654:
642:
617:
576:
561:
536:
521:
509:
497:
485:
470:
458:
443:
439:Albertine Rift
426:
411:
381:
379:
376:
362:late 2006 the
334:
331:
270:
267:
227:
224:
218:
215:
174:
171:
167:montane forest
145:
144:
135:
131:
130:
123:
117:
116:
109:
108:
102:
101:
100:
99:
98:
95:
94:
90:
89:
57:
51:
50:
47:
41:
40:
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
998:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
969:
968:
966:
954:
948:
944:
943:
937:
933:
931:2-8317-0021-3
927:
923:
918:
917:
910:
906:
900:
896:
895:
889:
885:
883:0-226-73648-2
879:
875:
874:
868:
863:
858:
854:
850:
846:
841:
831:on 2012-06-05
830:
826:
821:
811:on 2012-05-08
810:
806:
805:GlobalSpecies
802:
798:
794:
790:
786:
782:
778:
774:
769:
765:
759:
755:
754:
748:
744:
738:
734:
733:
727:
717:on 2012-04-26
716:
712:
707:
696:
692:
688:
687:
682:
675:
670:
667:
664:, p. 17.
663:
658:
655:
651:
646:
643:
628:
621:
618:
613:
609:
604:
599:
595:
591:
587:
580:
577:
572:
565:
562:
547:
540:
537:
534:, p. 50.
533:
528:
526:
522:
519:, p. 33.
518:
513:
510:
507:, p. 51.
506:
501:
498:
494:
489:
486:
482:
477:
475:
471:
467:
462:
459:
456:, p. 86.
455:
454:Schaller 1988
450:
448:
444:
440:
435:
433:
431:
427:
423:
422:Doumenge 1998
418:
416:
412:
408:
407:Birdlife 2011
403:
401:
399:
397:
395:
393:
391:
389:
387:
383:
377:
375:
371:
369:
365:
360:
356:
351:
348:
339:
332:
330:
328:
324:
319:
317:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
292:
288:
284:
280:
276:
268:
266:
262:
261:populations.
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
237:
232:
225:
223:
216:
214:
210:
208:
204:
200:
195:
192:
188:
184:
180:
172:
170:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
143:
139:
136:
132:
106:
96:
91:
86:
58:
56:
52:
48:
46:
42:
37:
30:
25:
20:
941:
915:
897:. Springer.
893:
872:
852:
848:
833:. Retrieved
829:the original
813:. Retrieved
809:the original
804:
776:
772:
752:
731:
719:. Retrieved
715:the original
699:. Retrieved
694:
669:
657:
645:
634:. Retrieved
620:
593:
589:
579:
570:
564:
553:. Retrieved
539:
512:
500:
495:, p. 7.
488:
461:
372:
352:
344:
320:
316:Ruzizi Plain
304:Banyamulenge
275:Banyamulenge
272:
263:
240:
235:
220:
211:
196:
176:
150:
148:
596:(1): 1–27.
347:Elila River
247:chimpanzees
207:Elila River
80: /
55:Coordinates
981:South Kivu
965:Categories
835:2011-12-18
815:2011-12-19
721:2011-12-18
701:2011-12-18
636:2023-04-29
555:2023-04-29
378:References
199:Mount Mohi
155:South Kivu
138:South Kivu
612:0022-278X
279:Bafuliiru
173:Geography
93:Geography
68:28°55′0″E
45:Elevation
945:. IUCN.
327:Kamituga
306:(ethnic
287:Banyindu
134:Location
65:3°30′0″S
793:3674036
683:Sources
300:Babembe
283:Babembe
259:Virunga
949:
928:
901:
880:
791:
760:
739:
610:
312:Bavira
296:Balega
269:People
255:Bwindi
789:JSTOR
630:(PDF)
549:(PDF)
308:Tutsi
291:Bashi
226:Fauna
217:Flora
947:ISBN
926:ISBN
899:ISBN
878:ISBN
849:Oryx
758:ISBN
737:ISBN
608:ISSN
298:and
289:and
257:and
249:and
149:The
857:doi
781:doi
598:doi
967::
924:.
922:33
853:33
851:.
847:.
803:.
787:.
777:18
775:.
693:.
606:.
594:55
592:.
588:.
524:^
473:^
446:^
429:^
414:^
385:^
285:,
281:,
277:,
245:,
140:,
955:.
934:.
907:.
886:.
865:.
859::
838:.
818:.
795:.
783::
766:.
745:.
724:.
704:.
652:.
639:.
614:.
600::
558:.
468:.
441:.
409:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
