Observations on Savanna Burning in the Olokemeji Forest Reserve, Nigeria

A second-order impact model for forest fire regimes

“…The cycle, shown in Fig. 2(b), is set up by the lower layer, and in fact the fire is essentially a surface fire devastating the herbs (the post-fire bush biomass is only 10% of the pre-fire bush biomass), while tree biomass remains almost constant, as observed by Hopkins (1965).…”

Change in percentage ground cover of perennial grasses under different burning regimes

“…The results showed that late fires destroyed litter which otherwise would have hindered the growth of grasses, while no burning treatment caused accumulation of litter especially at the beginning of the growing season. Hopkins (1965Hopkins ( , 1966 also observed that burning destroyed litter quicker than the normal process of decay. West (1965) had ob~ served that destruction of litter by burning stimulates the growth of a new herbage flush which is important for grazing animals.…”

Remote Sensing of Biomass in the Miombo Woodlands of Southern Africa: Opportunities and Limitations for Research

“…During this time of the year most tree species produce new leaves, which make them less tolerant to intense fires. Frequent late dry season fires also destroy young trees and shrubs, or their aboveground parts, preventing the development of taller, more fire resistant size classes (Brookman-Amissah et al, 1980;Hopkins, 1965). Scientific accounts of elephant damage to vegetation in African savannas and woodlands emerged during the 1960s.…”