Towards an understanding of forest-savannah transition dynamics and the role of fire in Central Africa

Forest-savannah transition zones represent a widespread ecotone in tropical areas. Attractive to mammals with a diversity of habitats and resources, they are valuable for conservation and tourism. Shaped by hydrology, fire, herbivory and soil properties, they are also vulnerable to drivers of anthropogenic change. Under current climatic conditions forest encroachment is occurring across Central Africa, and fire is a key management tool. However, understanding thresholds of fire resilience and suppression will be critical in the face of global climatic changes. Though long-term study at a dynamic forest-savannah interface in Central Africa, Gabon, I present recent data on forest changes across a successional gradient, the role of fire in colonisation and recruitment pathways and the relationship between grass and fire at forest edges. I discuss the implications of our research for policy and management as well as future perspectives.