When Kibira was elevated to protected area status by a ministerial order establishing its boundaries on 12 December 1933, its area was 90,000 hectares. This remained the case until 1950,

Lake Rwegura is drying up. The part of Lake Rwegura near the Rwegura tea plantations dried up in September 2025, whereas in May 2025 it was covered by the waters

Tea plantations stretching as far as the eye can see on the edge of Kibira Park, agricultural fields, construction of a hydroelectric power station and vast bare land abandoned inside

Area of the Kibira forest converted into agricultural land and left fallow by state institutions in the Rwegura sector. Photo Arthur Bizimana State production companies and institutions—Regideso, Isabu, and DPAE—carry

Woodlands belonging to the Burundi Tea Board, where wood used to dry green tea leaves at the Rwegura tea factory has been cut down Photo Arthur Bizimana The Burundi Tea