Open AccessEvolving fire management strategies and their impact on the occurrence and spatial extent of unplanned wildfires in a large African savanna park
Author(s) -
Tercia Strydom,
Stephen Midzi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
territorium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1647-7723
pISSN - 0872-8941
DOI - 10.14195/1647-7723_26-1_2
Subject(s) - national park , geography , fire regime , prescribed burn , ecosystem , fire ecology , land management , environmental resource management , environmental science , agroforestry , ecology , forestry , agriculture , archaeology , biology
Savannas cover approximately 20 % of the global land surface. In African savannas, fire is an important agent for controlling these ecosystems. Kruger National Park (KNP) is a large African savanna park which has implemented a variety of fire management strategies over the years. Using KNP’s recorded fire history (from 1941-2017), we examined the occurrence and spatial extent of accidental wildfires in KNP in relation to adaptations in the fire management strategies over time. From 1941 to 2017 fires were a regular, almost annual occurrence in KNP. However, fuel loads accumulate over time when fires are extinguished or controlled burning in these landscapes is prevented, and the result is a substantial amount of combustible material to support large unplanned wildfires. Therefore, fire management strategies influence the occurrence and spatial extent of unplanned wildfires in African savannas. Prescribed burning is a critical management tool which should be used in fire-prone landscapes, however, research is needed to determine the appropriate fire regime needed to manage a fire-driven system.