Journal
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF RANGE & FORAGE SCIENCE
Volume 39, Issue 1, Pages 27-43Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.2989/10220119.2021.2016965
Keywords
charcoal; ecosystem management; fire; history; palaeoecology; palaeofire
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This study discusses the importance of prehistoric sedimentary charcoal studies in African grassy biomes, and how they provide long-term data for fire ecology and ecosystem functioning. This contribution aims to assist stakeholders in improving and managing grassy ecosystems effectively.
African grassy biomes evolved together with fire and have a long history of human manipulation of fire, yet few rangeland studies acknowledge the role of prehistoric fire in shaping contemporary ecological patterns. Nevertheless, prehistoric fire records have been used elsewhere as invaluable environmental contexts for practitioners in fire management, ecosystem restoration and climate change. Therefore, our aim is to collate prehistoric sedimentary charcoal studies from southern African grassy biomes and bring them to the attention of practitioners. We discuss how long-term data contribute to fire ecology and ecosystem functioning. Importantly, this contribution aims to give a reference point for stakeholders working at different temporal and spatial scales to improve our understanding and management of grassy ecosystems.
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