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Buhanga Sacred Forest
Musanze District, Northern Province, Rwanda
Rwanda
Active (protected)
Single grove
- Location
- Musanze District, Northern Province, Rwanda
- Coordinates
- ~1.50°S 29.60°E
- Elevation
- ~1,860 m (volcanic)
- Size
- Small relict forest
- Age / Founded
- Ancient (Rwandan royal/ancestral; kings' coronation site)
- Status
- Active (protected)
- Deity & Religion
- Ancestral/royal sanctity; Rwandan traditional belief
- Community & Guardians
- Local Rwandan communities; historically the monarchy
- Vernacular name
- Relict sacred forest (royal)
- Record type
- Single grove
Cultural practices & uses
Royal coronation rituals; sacred water-spring; medicinal plants; no firewood/disturbance
Plant species
Relict native trees (on old lava); medicinal species
Biome & fauna
Volcanic relict forest; refuge for arboreal & migratory birds
Threats & protection
Culturally protected relict; ecotourism site
Source
'Assessment of TEK… Buhanga sacred forest, Rwanda' (SciELO/Bothalia 2016)