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Fire Management in Southern Africa: Some Examples of Current Objectives, Practices, and Problems

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Fire in the Tropical Biota

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 84))

Abstract

This review covers the use of fire in the management of vegetation in selected areas of southern Africa. Major existing reviews of the ecological effects of fire in Africa have appeared in the recent past (Booysen and Tainton 1984; Komarek 1972; Phillips 1974; Trollope 1980b). It is not our intention to repeat what has been covered by earlier reviews, but rather to concentrate on the use of fire in the management of southern African ecosystems. Information on the objectives of management in areas of natural vegetation and the means by which they are achieved through the use of fire is widely scattered. The research results on which such policies are based are also scattered, and a synthesis would seem timely. The areas we have selected as examples cover the major vegetation types as well as the major forms of land use (agricultural, conservation, and catchment areas).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jonkershoek Forestry Research Centre, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa

    B. W. van Wilgen

  2. Cathedral Peak Forestry Research Station, Winterton, 3340, South Africa

    C. S. Everson

  3. Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700, Ciskei, South Africa

    W. S. W. Trollope

Authors
  1. B. W. van Wilgen
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  2. C. S. Everson
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  3. W. S. W. Trollope
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fire Ecology and Fire Management Research Unit Institute of Forest Zoology, University of Freiburg, Bertoldstraße 17, 7800, Freiburg, Germany

    Johann Georg Goldammer

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© 1990 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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van Wilgen, B.W., Everson, C.S., Trollope, W.S.W. (1990). Fire Management in Southern Africa: Some Examples of Current Objectives, Practices, and Problems. In: Goldammer, J.G. (eds) Fire in the Tropical Biota. Ecological Studies, vol 84. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75395-4_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75395-4_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-75397-8

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