CSIRO PUBLISHING | International Journal of Wildland Fire

Tropical savannas support more than 10% of the human population, occupy about one sixth of the global land surface, and historically have likely suffered twice the rate of conversion as tropical forests. They also contribute about 30% of global terrestrial net primary production, account for almost 90% of global burned area and about 60% of global carbon emissions from fire. The burning of savanna is primarily undertaken by people for a variety of agricultural, pastoral, and customary management activities. Given the significant carbon fluxes and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with seasonally severe savanna fires, it has been proposed that active fire management in fire-impacted savannas can significantly reduce GHG emissions and sequester additional carbon in biomass and possibly soil pools. As demonstrated in Australian savannas, reducing carbon emissions through active fire management can generate tradable carbon credits providing income and employment opportunities for Indigenous and remote communities, and support biodiversity conservation. The success of this management approach has led to suggestions that it can be extended to other continents, for notable example in southern Africa and South America. This special issue of the International Journal of Wildland Fire aims to explore the status of technical challenges, opportunities and potential livelihood and ecological benefits, associated with applying market-based fire management approaches in severely fire-impacted tropical savanna systems.

Guest Editors
Jeremy Russell Smith (Charles Darwin University), Andrew Edwards (Charles Darwin University), Roland Vernooij (Vreij University)

Last Updated: 15 Jan 2025

WF23193Framework for a savanna burning emissions abatement methodology applicable to fire-prone miombo woodlands in southern Africa

Jeremy Russell-Smith, Cameron Yates, Roland Vernooij, Tom Eames, Diane Lucas, Keddy Mbindo, Sarah Banda, Kanembwa Mukoma, Adrian Kaluka, Alex Liseli, Jomo Mafoko, Othusitse Lekoko, Robin Beatty, Mirjam Kaestli, Guido van der Werf and Natasha Ribeiro

We develop a robust greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting framework for miombo woodland savannas covering ~2 million km² of southern Africa that typically burn under fairly severe late dry season conditions. We demonstrate that prescribed early dry season fire treatments can reduce GHG emissions by up to half.

This article belongs to the Collection Savanna burning.

WF24053Seasonal litter decomposition and accumulation in north Australian savanna

Cameron Yates, Jay Evans and Jeremy Russell-Smith

Savanna fire models rely on seasonal measures of available fine fuels. This study investigates monthly rates of fine fuel decomposition and accumulation in typical eucalypts-dominated savanna woodland in north Australia over an annual cycle. Whereas decomposition is shown to occur most rapidly in the wet season, accumulated fine fuels were greater late in the dry season.

This article belongs to the Collection Savanna Burning.

WF24092Factors enabling fire management outcomes in Indigenous Savanna fire management projects in Western Australia

Tom Vigilante, Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation , Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation , Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation , Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation , Catherine Goonack, Desmond Williams, Aidan Joseph, Leigh-Ann Woolley and Rohan Fisher

% of project burnt in the early- and late-dry season before (a) and after (b) project initiation, also shown with violin (b) and box (d) plots.

Our study used satellite imagery to examine wildfire patterns before and after the North Kimberley Fire Abatement Project, an indigenous fire project, was established in northern Western Australia. We show that damaging wildfires were effectively reduced and discuss the reasons for this success.

This article belongs to the Collection Savanna Burning.

WF23202Review of approaches and challenges for the validation of satellite-based active fire products in savannah ecosystems

Simon Ramsey

, Simon Jones and Karin Reinke

This article reviews traditional and contemporary methods that have been used to assess the accuracy of satellite active fire products and the consistency between products. We provide through this review generalised frameworks that advise on good practice for validating satellite fire products within the savannah biome.

This article belongs to the Collection Savanna Burning.

WF24081Dynamics of standing dead wood and severe fire in north Australian savannas: implications for carbon management

Peter J. Whitehead, Brett P. Murphy, Jay Evans, Dominique Lynch, Cameron P. Yates, Andrew Edwards, Harry Mcdermott and Jeremy Russell-Smith

Fire creates stags by killing trees and also removes them. Proportions of stags lost usually exceed per capita mortality rates except after severe fire, when tree deaths greatly outnumber stag losses. Fire management is unlikely to increase the proportion of biomass in stags unless live biomass declines.

This article belongs to the Collection Savanna Burning.

WF24129Fire for the future: governance of market-based savanna fire management projects in Arnhem Land, northern Australia

Taegan Calnan

, Dean Yibarbuk and Jeremy Russell-Smith

Developing effective participatory community-based governance is recognised as a key challenge in delivering equitable and sustainable outcomes for Indigenous communities in market-based carbon and ecosystem services projects.

This article belongs to the collection: Savanna burning.

WF24035Fire regime impacts on soil microbes, soil organic carbon and ground cover in an Australian tropical savanna

Marissa H. Blunden

, Luke Florence, Susanna R. Bryceson, Gary J. Clark, John W. Morgan and Jennifer L. Wood

In an Australian tropical savanna, soil microbial abundance was more affected by burn season than fire frequency. Grass and litter cover reduced microbial abundance; modern grasses had a greater impact on microbes than ancient endemic species. Soil organic carbon and coarse-scale microbial community structure were unaffected by fire regime.

This article belongs to the collection: Savanna burning.

WF24098Managing south-east Asia’s savannas: challenges and holistic approaches through community-based fire management

Marina Tornorsam

, Thi Thuy Nguyen, Ate Poortinga, Vanessa Machuca, Enikoe Bihari, Karis Tenneson, Hanh Quyen Nguyen, Thomas Buchholz, David Saah, Peter Cutter and David Ganz

We review the challenges and solutions for managing savannas in the Lower Mekong region, focusing on fire regimes, misclassification and mapping difficulties. Emphasising a balance between community socioeconomic needs and biophysical conditions, we recommend sustainable savanna management through holistic, community-based fire management, integrated landscape planning and further exploration of incentivisation for avoided emissions.

This article belongs to the collection: Savanna burning.