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General Objectives
Numerous groups in Southern Africa (SA) and Europe work on practical and theoretical aspects of the extensive savanna ecosystem and its use by humans and animals, both domestic and wild. The extent and value of savannas is not well quantified, but they constitute about 75% of the area of Southern Africa and their ecosystem services and natural capital value has recently been estimated at about US$ 100 billion per year. However, very little research has studied the transnational implications of the continued use of savannas which are naturally dry and fragile and thus subject to high variability. They are increasingly coming under severe stress from human and animal population pressures and from land distribution policies; thus sustainable practices and policies are difficult to implement. Savannas in SA are subject to great climate variability which for sustainable use requires linked socioeconomic and environmental management strategies; but these processes are not now well documented or understood. Unfortunately there has been very little integration between the social and natural environment management sciences in order to ensure sustainable use of the savannas while providing optimum resources for the local people. Modelling is helping to understand the biophysical processes involved in optimising practical 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 mostly neglected. An historical view must also be taken if the natural climate variability effects (especially rainfall) are to be disaggregated from the predicted climate future change.

The proposed collaboration is between three EU groups which have considerable experience with savanna soils and vegetation and five Southern Africa groups which work on rangelands and agriculture, woodlands and agroforestry, water management and wildlife, and economic and social sustainability. Previous collaboration within SA has been very difficult so this work will result in a unique synthesis of the existing knowledge (local and international) on the environmental impacts of savanna resource uses and the development of practical strategies for the implementation of sustainable practices and policies. This will guide future regional and international research towards management options which lead towards sustainable use of savanna lands to ensure long term sustainability with short term benefits.

Specific scientific and technical objectives
The three main savanna land use patterns will be studied :
  1. traditional "subsistence" agriculture and agroforestry,
  2. commercial agriculture and forestry, and
  3. wildlife utilisation.

Each land use pattern will be studied from three viewpoints: ecosystem sustainability, economic sustainability, and social equity. The concerted action will accomplish the following four tasks:
i) evaluate current practices and policies on savannas from an interdisciplinary view to ascertain their sustainability;
ii) describe alternative practices and policies required for achieving sustainable savanna systems;
iii) recommend mechanisms for promoting the implementation of these regionally appropriate practices and policies, and
iv) Synthesise existing data and data generated through the tasks, carry out meetings and scientific exchange, publish reports and data, and evaluate potential training and policy options; identify research priorities needed to address unanswered questions about sustainable savanna ecosystems.

INCO-DC : International Cooperation with Developing Countries (1994-1998)
Contract number : ERBIC18CT980277
ANNUAL REPORT:
covering period from 1/Oct/98 to 1/Sept/99

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