Effects of wildfire on a semidesert riparian woodland along the Turkwel river, Kenya, and management implications for turkana pastoralists

Regeneration following a wildfire in a semidesert riparian woodland near the Turkwel River, Kenya was monitored from 2nd June, 1987 to 6th July, 1988. The pre‐fire tree density was 417 plants ha −1 and the canopy cover was 36.5 per cent ha −1 . Hyphaene compressa (a palm) accounted for 93 per cent of total density and Acacia tortilis 6.9 per cent. A tortilis contributed a pre‐fire aboveground fuel biomass of 64.92 t ha −1 , while H. compressa provided 23.35 t ha −1 . The wildfire reduced tree canopy cover to about 7.0 per cent and resulted in a 100.0 per cent top‐kill of A. tortilis and 24.0 per cent for H. compressa . Seed germination of A. tortilis and canopy density of H. compressa saplings were stimulated by the wildfire. The post‐fire A. tortilis seedling density was 9 554 ha −1 compared to the pre‐fire density of 213 plants ha −1 . Canopy cover of palms in the burnt area increased by 457.0 per cent, while crown heights increased by 100.0 per cent between the sampling dates. Where H. compressa palms were not top‐killed, recovery following the post‐burn period resulted in higher foliage yield compared to unburnt palms. In reproductive palms, burning delayed fruit production although the effect may not be long lasting. The impact of wildfire on this Turkwel riparian woodland has important management implications. Elimination of pod‐bearing A. tortilis by fire creates acute shortage of a critical dry season forage for Turkana livestock, while loss of woody cover results in destruction of riparian habitats.