Response to: Problems and promises of savanna fire regime change

Abstract

aris 1 raises a number of important considerations regarding our analysis of global opportunities for emissions reductions through savanna burning. We agree entirely with Laris on some of the key points: (1) that tens of thousands of local people should be compensated for the ecosystem services they already provide by setting fires early in savanna landscapes, and (2) there is a need to modify fire regimes to reduce late dry season uncontrolled fires in Africa, the majority of emissions identified in our study. However, the question remains, how do we generate sustainable financial incentives to do that? Currently, the only proven mechanism is the savanna burning approach developed in Australia 2,3 , where we can demonstrate previous baselines with high emissions and reduced emissions from changed fire practices (early burning) 2 . We recognise that there are weaknesses in our global analysis when applied at the regional and local scale including: the need for refined emissions factors, refinement of the fire dichotomy, missing small early fires and a history of differing and problematic fire policies across Africa. We used a simple, generic model across sub-Saharan Africa. However, it is likely that climate, rainfall, vegetation, soils and associated emissions factors will vary across sub-Saharan Africa, as suggested by Laris. This will require the development of regional methodologies for Western, Southern, Eastern and Central Africa, with emissions factors and parameters appropriate for the respective regions.

Topics & Concepts