A recent exchange program brought together Malagasy protected-area managers with conservation experts from South African National Parks (SANParks) and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for a two-week journey. The collaboration, initiated by Dr Caroline Lehmann, Head of Tropical Diversity at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RGBE) and Reader, School of Geosciences at the University of Edinburgh, focused on mosaics of tropical grassland-forest ecosystems and their management, aimed to develop the Malagasy team’s expertise and highlight the critical role of grasslands and savannas in biodiversity protection and carbon storage.

The Edinburgh-led team (L-R): Dr Caroline Lehmann, Ludwig Baldaszti, PhD Researcher in the School of Geosciences at The University of Edinburgh and RBGE; Jakub Wieczorkowski, PhD Researcher in the School of Geosciences at The University of Edinburgh and RBGE; Anya Courtney, Data Technician in the School of Geosciences at The University of Edinburgh and RBGE; Elliot Convery Fisher, PhD Researcher in the School of Geosciences at The University of Edinburgh and RGBE and Dr Adam Devenish, Research Fellow at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.

The Malagasy-based team (L-R): Tiana Randriamboavonjy, Protected Areas Teams Leader at the Kew Madagascar Conservation Centre; Dorian Andrindrainy, Protected Area Manager at the Missouri Botanical Garden; Ellarissa Andrianjafy, Protected Area Manager at Madagascar Voakajy; Marius Rakotondratsima, Protected Area Manager at The Peregrine Fund; Ando Randria, Fire Officer, Kew Madagascar Conservation Centre and Dily Jaovola, Protected Area Manager at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Tropical savannas and grasslands cover 20% of the Earth’s land surface, harbour substantial biodiversity reserves and, in Africa, iconic megafauna such as lions, rhinos, and elephants. Grasslands are essential water catchments, with the montane grasslands of Africa playing a key role in filtering water into groundwater reserves. Beyond their ecological significance, these ecosystems are vital to millions of Africans who depend upon them for their livelihoods. With the capacity to store up to 15% of the world’s carbon, sustainable management of tropical savannas and grasslands is pivotal in the global effort to stay below the 1.5-degree target.

A savanna landscape of mopani trees in Kruger National Park

Experts Next Door

A short flight from Madagascar, South Africa is a global leader in grassland and savanna ecosystem management. It is recognised for its world-renowned network of protected areas, from the thriving savannahs of Kruger National Park to the expansive montane grasslands of Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve and Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

The counterparts in Madagascar manage similar montane grassland-forest mosaic ecosystems: areas of rare and endangered species, such as endemic orchids. Drawing on their collective research experience, the Edinburgh-led team aimed to support and develop the capacity of the Malagasy team by facilitating new collaborations and relationships with global leaders in grassland and savanna management.

Fire in the Grasslands

Leaders such as Navashni Govender, Senior Manager for Conservation Management at Kruger National Park, SANParks, who oversees the implementation of conservation management programs within an area about the size of Wales. To ensure sustainable ecosystem services and maintain suitable habitats for biodiversity, Navashni uses fire.

Fire is a natural part of grassland and savanna ecosystems. However, in Kruger, as elsewhere in South Africa and globally, SANParks light fires to protect fire-adapted flora and fauna. With expertise in grasslands and savannas, the necessary environmental conditions and thorough planning, the team observed Navashni and colleagues safely conducting a controlled burn equivalent to a football pitch. We, the spectators, were just meters away, with our primary concern being the nearby presence of lions.

As temperatures reached below freezing in Scotland, the team braced conditions of 40 C plus to observe controlled burns implemented by the Kruger Fire Tea

“Without the fire, we have no grasslands. Without the grasslands, we have no food for the animals. Without the animals, we have no visitors. That would be the end of ecotourism within the Kruger National Park.” Navashni explains.

Fires also play an essential role in protecting ecological and economic assets from potentially catastrophic fires. In the Drakensberg mountains, the Cathedral Peak protected area managers use fire to protect the park’s tourist accommodation and forest patches. By introducing controlled fires early in the dry season, they can manage the size and intensity of fires and prevent them from spreading dangerously, thereby reducing fuel load and the fire risk.

New Experiences

For many Malagasy staff, this was their first time outside the country. This included Ando Randria, a Fire Officer at Kew Madagascar Conservation Centre. Ando works with the community to manage fires. Coming to South Africa has been an unrivalled experience for Ando. We are seeing first-hand how fire can be managed differently. “For me, we always focus on the forest in our protected area. Forest. Forest. Forest. But now I realise how important grasslands can be to the local community and how there are many types of beautiful grasses,” Ando mentioned while reflecting on her experience. This trip has left her with plenty to think about upon her return to Madagascar.

Ando vlogging about her experiences.

Grassland Protection to Combat Climate Change

Madagascar, the world’s fifth-largest island, is grappling with one of the world’s highest poverty rates (75%). The situation is exacerbated by increasing climate crises and heightened vulnerability to external shocks.

It is understandable that in response, the government of Madagascar is planting trees across the island as a climate mitigation strategy and to generate income streams through market-based initiatives. However, much of the planting is taking place on grasslands. Under the guise of reforestation, this afforestation can severely compromise ecosystem services, including hydrological and soil nutrient cycles, reduce biodiversity and increase the risk of catastrophic fires.

It may also be ineffective from a climate perspective. Grasses draw carbon from the atmosphere and store it belowground. While in stable climates, trees can store more carbon than grasslands, grasslands and savannas can be more resilient carbon stores in a warmer, drier and vulnerable future. Appropriate grassland management is, therefore, vital to protect biodiversity and store carbon.

The montane grasslands of Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve

“Getting people excited about savanna and grassland conservation in Madagascar has been a real challenge. Still, if we push the case of the value of these unique ecosystems to biodiversity, carbon and livelihoods, they may finally get the recognition they deserve,” suggested co-lead Dr Adam Devenish, Research Fellow at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.

The trip has helped develop recognition and respect for the value of grasslands to people and biodiversity and the role that fire can play in their management. However, this trip alone will not change the situation overnight, but it marks a promising beginning. As the team reconvenes in February 2024 to develop fire management plans for Madagascar’s protected areas, the aim is clear—to spread the word about the importance of grasslands in Madagascar. And for now, at least, the word is out. The trip was funded as part of the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund DEFRA program for Madagascar, where a six-year program to develop and implement fire management for sustainable land management is led by Dr Caroline Lehmann.