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Effect of fire on plant communities and soils in the humid tropical savannah of Gambela, Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Woube M.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
land degradation and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1099-145X
pISSN - 1085-3278
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-145x(199805/06)9:3<275::aid-ldr287>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - agroforestry , geography , biodiversity , physiognomy , pastoralism , soil water , agriculture , structural basin , rangeland , tropics , erosion , environmental science , forestry , ecology , livestock , biology , archaeology , paleontology , physics , astronomy
Ethiopian pastoralists and farmers use fire for regrowth of young green shoots and food crops, respectively. As a result, useful plants and wild animals are also affected. The intensity, frequency and magnitude of fires in the Gambela region (Baro‐Akobo river basin) have been aggravated by the recent resettlement scheme and mechanized farming. Fires have (i) changed the physiognomy of plants; (ii) reduced the number of indispensable plant species; (iii) pushed wild animals to neighbouring areas; and (iv) brought soil erosion. If the present fire occurrences continue, this region of rich biodiversity will become desertified. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.