Sedimentary charcoal studies from southern Africa’s grassy biomes: a potential resource for informing the management of fires and ecosystems

Abstract

African grassy biomes evolved together with fire and have a long history of human manipulation of fire, yet few rangeland studies acknowledge the role of prehistoric fire in shaping contemporary ecological patterns. Nevertheless, prehistoric fire records have been used elsewhere as invaluable environmental contexts for practitioners in fire management, ecosystem restoration and climate change. Therefore, our aim is to collate prehistoric sedimentary charcoal studies from southern African grassy biomes and bring them to the attention of practitioners. We discuss how long-term data contribute to fire ecology and ecosystem functioning. Importantly, this contribution aims to give a reference point for stakeholders working at different temporal and spatial scales to improve our understanding and management of grassy ecosystems.

Keywords:

• charcoal
• ecosystem management
• fire
• history
• palaeoecology
• palaeofire