A reassessment of the fire-tolerance of some miombo woody species in the Central Province, Zambia

The fire-tolerance of 21 woody species in a dry miombo woodland in the Central Province, Zambia was evaluated and compared to an existing classification. The evaluation is based on differences in the vertical distribution of canopy volumes over a range of height intervals after repeated exposure of woodlands to fire. Woody species that showed an inverse correlation between canopy volume and tree height were classified as fire-sensitive, whilst those that showed a positive correlation were classified as fire-tolerant. A new method of a rapid and simple field evaluation is described, and further applications are discussed.