Albertine rift montane forests
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Albertine Rift montane forests.

The Albertine Rift montane forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of central Africa. The montane forests cover portions of Rwanda, Burundi, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and western Uganda and Tanzania, occupy the parallel mountain ranges that enclose the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the Great Rift Valley. The mountain ranges include the Lendu Plateau, Virunga Mountains, and Ruwenzori Mountains. At the highest elevations of the Ruwenzori and Virunga ranges (above 3000 meters), the forests transition to the Afroalpine Ruwenzori-Virunga montane moorlands ecoregion.

The ecoregion consists of diverse montane rainforests, distinct from the Congolian lowland forests to the east, and home to many species characteristic of the Afromontane flora. The rare Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is endemic to the ecoregion. The montane forests are included on the Global 200 list.

External links

• Albertine Rift montane forests (World Wildlife Fund)
• Albertine Rift programme (Wildlife Conservation Society)