**Ecology of Woody Plants in African Savanna Ecosystems**

Allan Sebata

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69865

### **Abstract**

Woody plants are key components of African savanna ecosystems as they provide wildlife habitats, offer browsing to ungulates and are also a major source of fuel wood. Disturbance events such as herbivory and fire negatively affect woody plant communities. However, some woody plants respond to disturbance events through resprouting. In savanna ecosystems, woody plants co-occur with grasses and disturbance events such as overgrazing result in the proliferation of woody plants at the expense of the grasses. Therefore, an understanding of the factors that influence woody plants is critical for the better management of African savanna ecosystems. This chapter reviewed our current knowledge of the ecology of woody plants in African savanna ecosystems and examined disturbance events such as herbivory and fire that shape woody plant communities. The role of resprouting as a response to disturbance events and the negative effects of woody plant encroachment on African savannas was also investigated. In addition, the consequences of poor management such as woody plants loss and possible restoration measures were explored. Disturbance events such as herbivory and fire were found to play critical roles in shaping the African savanna ecosystems. Interventions such as restoration have a role to play in restoring the productivity of degraded woody plant communities.

**Keywords:** encroachment, fire, herbivory, resprouting, restoration, savanna
