Ecosystem restoration in fire-managed savanna woodlands: Effects on biodiversity,local livelihoods and fire intensity |
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Authors: | Maria Ulrika Johansson Firew Bekele Abebe Sileshi Nemomissa Tamrat Bekele Kristoffer Hylander |
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Affiliation: | 1.Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden ;2.Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden ;3.Department of Natural Resources Management, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia ;4.Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
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Abstract: | Ethiopia aims to restore 15 million ha degraded forests and woodlands, but effects on the potentially contrasting goals of long-term carbon storage, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods are unknown. To quantify the effects of grazing exclusion on vegetation and fire behaviour, we established six 30 × 30 m fenced exclosures with grazed controls, in a mesic wooded savanna. Experimental burns were done after 1.5 years. Tree seedlings were few but more common inside fences. Field layer cover and biomass increased inside fences, and grass species increased in numbers and cover. Fire intensity was higher inside fences, killing shrubs and saplings but not mature trees. Interviews confirmed that overgrazing has resulted in “cool fires”, causing shrub encroachment. High-intensity fires occurred in the 1980s after a zoonotic disease killed most livestock. Short-term increase in carbon storage through fire and grazing exclusion may lead to loss of pasture, and in the long-term increased wildfire risk.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01343-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. |
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Keywords: | Cool fires Experimental fire REDD+ Seedling establishment Shrub encroachment Traditional fire knowledge |
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