Open AccessPreliminary Assessment of Vegetation Fires and their Impact in Nyanga National Park, Zimbabwe
Author(s) -
Transfrontier Conservation Areas Office, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe,
Zisadza-Gandiwa Patience,
Gandiwa Edson,
B. Matokwe Tichaona,
Scientific Services, Masvingo Regional Office, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority,
Rachel Gwazani,
Clayton Mashapa,
Muboko Never,
Mudangwe Sybert,
Nyanga National Park, Nyanga, Zimbabwe
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
greener journal of biological sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2276-7762
DOI - 10.15580/gjbs.2014.1.011314031
Subject(s) - national park , vegetation (pathology) , poaching , geography , wildlife , environmental protection , forestry , environmental science , environmental resource management , ecology , archaeology , biology , medicine , pathology
This study aimed at assessing the patterns of vegetation fires and their impact in Nyanga National Park (NNP), Zimbabwe. Field assessments were conducted in September 2012. Our results showed that fires are common in NNP with the majority of fires being caused by poaching activities. Moreover, anthropogenic activities, particularly agricultural activities, in the boundaries of the park also increased the fire occurrences. However, there were no significant increases in number of fires or spatial extent of burnt area between 2008 and 2012 ( P > 0.05). Fires influenced vegetation structure and composition, wildlife communities and negatively affected infrastructure within the park. We recommend for the development of a fire management plan for NNP.
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