Volcans Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1983, in Rwanda. Volcans Biosphere Reserve is located in north-western Rwanda on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. It comprises five volcanoes: Karisimbi, Muhabura, Bisoke, Sabyinyo and Gahinga. The reserve covers 160 km² of rainforest and bamboo. It is home to 30 per cent of the global population of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). It supports 115 mammal species, 187 bird species, 27 reptile and amphibian species and 33 arthropod species. It has 13 orchid species protected by CITES and three endangered reptile species. It also has 245 plant species, 17 of which are threatened on the IUCN Red List.