Due to historical reasons very little of the research on SA savannas has involved transnational efforts or management implications. However, it is now recognised that problems common to the sustainability and use of savannas must be addressed on a SA basis since the factors influencing their sustainability are universal i.e. rainfall variability, soil fragility / erodibility, human and animal pressures, and land-use patterns. It is also now appreciated that savannas are complex ecosystems which are not at equilibrium and that they shift readily between different states in response to drought, grazing pressure, vegetation changes, and soil degradation. Savannas do, however, show some degree of resilience because of their complexity and biodiversity, but degradation occurs when they are perturbed beyond their ability to recover (Westoby et al , 1989; Scholes and Walker, 1993; Behnke et al, 1993; Reij et al., 1996; Hodgson and Illius, 1996)

In view of the high temporal and spatial variability of savannas induced by the fluctuations in rainfall and differing soil and geographic characteristics, there is variability in both the production and utilisation of the savanna vegetation. Thus grazing / browsing by animals (domestic and wild), fuelwood gathering, timber extraction, food production, and harvesting of various products (medicines, fruit, honey, crafts, etc) depend on sustainable management practices which take a long term view. Stresses due to population pressure (human and animal) various types of conflicts, and climate fluctuations and unpredictability make sustainable management difficult. However, there are basic management principles now becoming understood which can assist local people and planners in deriving sustainable benefits (see articles on Botswana, Eastern Cape and Zimbabwe in Odada, et al., 1996; Blench, 1996).

There is also considerable discussion on how climate change may affect SA savannas as a whole and what effect this may have on the 3 main products: livestock, wildlife, and plants (food, energy, medicines, etc). Problems of greater rainfall variability, loss of surface water, variation in plant productivities and tree-grass dynamics, bush encroachment, and fire frequencies are only now being considered as increasingly important for policy makers (Odada et al., 1996; Hulme et al., 1996; Scholes & Hall, 1996).

Lastly, there is the all-important consideration of the social and environmental interactions as very many people depend on savannas for their livelihood. Unfortunately this is a greatly neglected area of research which has only been seriously addressed in SA as new land distribution and grazing rights policies have been implemented over the last decade or so. Modelling is helping to understand the biophysical processes involved in optimising the practical and sustainable use of savannas (especially the role of soil available moisture and nutrients for plant growth and animal productivity), but the socio-economic aspects are still not well addressed. The question of equity is of even more recent concern, especially in South Africa. (Kgathi et al., 1997; Watson, 1997)

The three EU and five SA groups in this Concerted Action have experience and research work which addresses the key factors in sustainable savanna use. We will collaborate within the 3 Workpackages and 4 tasks to provide a way forward in the implementation of sustainable savanna management which benefits both the people and ecosystem.

Bibliography

1. Behnke RH, Scoones I, Kerwin C. Range Ecology at Disequilibrium. London, UK: ODI; 1993;
2. Blench, R. Aspects of Resource Conflict in Semi-Arid Africa. 16. Natural Resource Perspectives. ODI. London, UK. 1997;
3. Constanza R, et al. The Value of the World's Ecosystem Services And Natural Capital. Nature 387:253-60. 1997;
4. Hodgson J and Illius AW, eds.Ecology and Management of Grazing Systems. Wallingford, UK: CABI; 1996;
5. Hulme, M. ed. Climate Change and Southern Africa: an exploration of some potential impacts and implications for the SADC region. CRU/WWF. Norwich. 1996;
6. Huntley BJ and Walker BH, eds. Ecology of Tropical Savannas. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 1982;
7. Kgathi DR, Hall DO, Hategeka A, Sekhwela,M., eds. Biomass Energy Policy in Africa: selected case studies.. London, UK: Zed Books; 1997;
8. Odada, E., Totolo, O., Stafford Smith, M. et al., eds. Global Change and Subsistence Rangelands in Southern Africa: the impacts of climatic variability and resource access on rural livelihoods. GCTE Working Document, 20. GCTE / CSIRO. Canberra, 1996;
9. Reij C, Scoones I, and Toulmin C, eds. Sustaining the Soil: Indigenous Soil and Water Conservation in Africa. London, UK: Earthscan; 1996;
10. Scholes RJ, Hall DO. The Carbon Budget of Tropical Savannas, Woodlands, and Grasslands. Chap. 4 in; Breymeyer AI, Hall DO, Melillo JM, Agren GJ, eds. Global Change: Effects on Coniferous Forests and Grasslands. Chichester: 4, Wiley, 1997;
11. Scholes RJ, Walker BH. An African Savanna: synthesis of the Nylsvley study. Cambridge University Press; Cambridge, 1993;
12. Watson H. Factors influencing the distribution of gully erosion in Kwazulu Natal Mfolozi catchment-land reform implications. S African Geographical Journal 79:27-34. 1997;
13. Westoby M, Walker BH, Noy-Meir I. Opportunistic management for rangelands not at equilibrium. J Range Management 42:266-74. 1989;

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