New field guide for aquatic plants in Burundi
Last week, the RUBICOM project came to a close, marking two years of collaborative research in Burundi’s Rusizi Plain. Funded by VLIR-UOS, RUBICOM united the University of Antwerp, the University of Burundi, and CEBioS. The project focused on strengthening the relationship between people and nature, especially wetlands and aquatic systems. Its work addressed both ecological challenges and the daily realities of local communities. Central themes included human–hippo conflicts, climate change, and wetland resilience. Alongside research, local knowledge hubs were established to empower communities. Fieldwork included water quality monitoring and a large botanical survey of the Rusizi lagoon.
The survey documented 111 sites and provided the basis for a new Field Guide, published among others by Jonas Schoelynck and Steven Jacobs of the Global Change Ecology Centre. This book stands as a key outcome, offering a comprehensive record of the region’s plant diversity. It symbolizes both the achievements of RUBICOM and a tool for future conservation in Burundi.
