The Rugezi Marsh (also known as Ruhengeri Marsh ) is a protected area in Rwanda, covering 6,735 hectares (16,640 acres). The wetland is one of headwaters of the Nile, situated in the Northern Province within the Buberuka Highlands. At 2,100 metres (6,900 ft), the marsh is a high altitude peat bog. Rugezi developed from an accumulation of organic materials within a quartzite rock-trapping water depression. In its natural state, Rugezi has been playing a significant ecological, hydrological, socio-economical, historic, and recreational role in Rwanda. It is also an Important Bird Area (IBA) recognized by the BirdLife International in 2001, and is reported to be the habitat of 43 species of birds within and in the surrounding areas of the marsh; the area of IBA is identified as ha8,500 hectar