**10. Conclusion**

A better understanding of the ecology of woody plants is a key to the sustainable management of African savannas because they stabilize these ecosystems. Rainfall, soil, herbivory and fire play important roles in shaping African savanna ecosystems. The resilience and persistence of woody plants in African savannas are determined by their ability to resprout quickly after a disturbance event. Woody plant encroachment disrupts the balance between woody and herbaceous plants resulting in the replacement of the more productive open savannas with less productive densely vegetated ecosystems. Land degradation, mainly due to overgrazing, accelerates woody plant encroachment. Successful restoration of degraded savanna ecosystems requires a good understanding of their ecology.
