A review of fire management practices in African savanna-protected areas

Abstract

Savannas are characterised by the co-dominance of woody plants and grasses, in which trees that are at least 2 metres (m) tall occur above a grassy layer between 0.5 m and 2 m (Scholes & Walker 1993). Frequent natural fires have historically been reported in African savannas during the dry season, and have played an important role in shaping the composition and structure of these ecosystems (Bond 2019). The importance of fire in maintaining vegetation in savanna is thus well recognised (Archibald et al. 2017), especially in terms of ensuring the continued co-existence of woody and herbaceous plants (Archibald et al. 2013).