Kahuzi-Biega: 17 rivers flow from the park into Lake Kivu, site director says

Bukavu, South Kivu, DR Congo — The Kahuzi-Biega National Park is not only a refuge for Grauer’s gorillas and other endangered species. It is also an important source of water for rivers flowing through parts of South Kivu before reaching Lake Kivu.

Speaking at an event in Bukavu on 24 September 2026 to mark World Gorilla Day, Artur Kalonji, the park’s site director, said 17 rivers originate in Kahuzi-Biega and discharge nearly two million cubic metres of water into Lake Kivu.

“Seventeen rivers coming from Kahuzi-Biega National Park discharge almost two million cubic metres of water into Lake Kivu,” Artur Kalonji said.

However, Kalonji did not specify the period covered by the estimate or explain how the volume was calculated.

Those details are important. A figure of two million cubic metres could represent a daily, monthly, annual or other measurement period, and the significance of the figure depends on the method and timeframe used.

Rivers under pressure

Kalonji’s statement comes as several rivers linked to the Kahuzi-Biega landscape face increasing environmental pressure.

In November 2025, Strong Roots Congo launched an ecological restoration programme in Murhesa, in Kabare territory, focusing on rivers originating in the Kahuzi-Biega area.

The organisation said research on 17 rivers between Kazingo and Kalehe had identified a number of pressures, including pollution, erosion, deforestation, unsustainable farming practices, overexploitation of natural resources and soil degradation.

The study also reported concerns over declining water flows, biodiversity loss, recurrent flooding and growing food and water insecurity.

Murhundu, Mpungwe and Kabindi were identified as priority rivers for restoration.

More than 120 people, including local authorities, community leaders, customary representatives and residents of riparian communities, took part in discussions on the restoration programme.

Beyond gorilla conservation

The condition of rivers highlights an aspect of Kahuzi-Biega that goes beyond the protection of its famous gorillas.

Forests play an important role in regulating water movement through landscapes. Vegetation can help water infiltrate the soil, reduce surface runoff and erosion, and maintain soil moisture.

When forest cover is degraded, these functions can be affected, potentially increasing pressure on rivers and agricultural land downstream.

But establishing a direct link between changes in river flows and climate change requires long-term hydrological and meteorological data.

A decline observed in a particular river, for example, cannot by itself demonstrate that climate change is the direct cause. Changes in land use, deforestation, agriculture, infrastructure and seasonal rainfall patterns can also influence water flows.

Communities at the centre

The condition of rivers is also a social issue.

Many communities living around Kahuzi-Biega depend on water resources for farming, livestock and household needs. Changes in the availability or quality of water can therefore have consequences for food production and livelihoods.

Strong Roots Congo has emphasised the involvement of local communities in its restoration work, arguing that conservation efforts need to take into account the realities of people living around protected areas.

For Kahuzi-Biega, protecting the forest therefore involves more than safeguarding an iconic species.

It also means protecting water sources, soils, biodiversity and the ecological systems on which surrounding communities depend.

The figure cited by Artur Kalonji raises an important question that requires further investigation: how much water do the 17 rivers actually contribute to Lake Kivu, over what period, and how has that contribution changed over time?

Answering those questions would help clarify the role of Kahuzi-Biega in the region’s water system and the potential consequences of forest degradation and changing climate conditions.