Akagera swamps-The swamps are dominated by Cyperus papyrus and Phoenix reclinata and the habitat is home for rare Shoebill (threatened to extinction in Rwanda) and other water birds, wildlife species like hippos, buffaloes, giraffes, impalas and Sitatunga. The Akagera wetlands are the site for migratory water birds.

The wetlands offer to the communities number of goods and services such as water for domestic use, fishes, rice, raw materials for handcraft-making, grasses for livestock ,etc ;and water storage and purification, flood and erosion control ,carbon sequestration, climate regulation and recreational services.

Although these critical ecosystems are very important, they are threatened by reclamation, over exploitation, pollution and introduction of invasive species driven by high population growth and density and poor management plan and policy. This is aggravated by the effects of climate change that impact poor communities and get them highly dependent on ecosystems to survive.

With regard to the importance of these ecosystems, through the project termed “Stakeholders Engagement for Informed Decision-Making, Threats Mitigation and Sustainable Freshwater Services Management in the Great Lakes Region of East and Central Africa”, ARCOS maintains an integrated monitoring programme to document the changes affecting the Akagera river Basin with a focus on protecting its remaining wetlands.