Not long ago, Vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) were abundant in the riparian areas of Lake Rwihinda.

The egg-eating snake Dasypeltis scabra has been found on Akagwa Island in Lake Rwihinda, where it devastates bird nests.

Akagwa Island in the middle of the lake has undisturbed vegetation dominated by Phoenix reclinata, with other plants such as Cyperus papyrus and Phragmites mauritianus.

[12] The number of waterbirds has been descreasing, but efforts to create a 50 metres (160 ft) wide buffer zone around the lake have improved the biodivesity habitat.

A poorly conceived campaign to introduce oil palm cultivation in the Bugesera region caused farmers to clear part of the buffer zone.

Under a government-sponsored program, part of the Nyavyamo marsh connecting Lake Rwihinda to the Akanyaru River will soon be developed for agriculture.