Namibia and Nebraska have many things in common, and one is that the use of fire on grasslands has been greatly diminished in the past 100 years. The effects of fire suppression in Nebraska result in cedar tree infestations. In Namibia, there is concern that bush encroachment (acacia trees) may be enhanced when fires do not happen, and seedlings survive in mass numbers.
My colleague at Polytechnic of Namibia, Dave Joubert, is studying the effect of fire on seedlings. He invited me to come out to his study plot this week to help with pre-fire preparations and the prescribed burn. Photos of both experiences are on the Picasa photo site.
It is always a thrill (in fearful and fun ways) to watch a patch of grass burn. And, it's interesting to think about landscape dynamics that have been changed as humans have learned to control fire. The veld (rangeland) is a product of the dynamics that shape it, and the removal of an important dynamic, like fire, should have consequences. The results of Dave's study should be of interest to farmers in Namibia who are looking for ways to increase grass on their farms (by decreasing bush).
Back in Nebraska, my graduate student, January Frost, and I have had a paper accepted for publication in the journal Restoration Ecology. It details the effects of cedar encroachment on bird communities along the Niobrara River in northern Nebraska. This type of research (effects of bush encroachment on bird communities) has yet to be done in Namibia. It might be a reason to return!
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