Fire regimes in eastern coastal fynbos : imperatives and thresholds in managing for diversity

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dc.contributor.authorKraaij, Tinekeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorCowling, Richard M.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorVan Wilgen, Brian W.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-07T12:34:05Z
dc.date.available2014-07-07T12:34:05Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.descriptionCITATION: Kraaij, T., Cowling, R. M. & Van Wilgen, B. W. 2013. Fire regimes in eastern coastal fynbos : imperatives and thresholds in managing for diversity. Koedoe, 55(1), Art. #1104, doi:10.4102/koedoe.v55i1.1104.en_ZA
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at http://www.koedoe.co.zaen_ZA
dc.description.abstractUntil recently, fire ecology was poorly understood in the eastern coastal region of the Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK), South Africa. Rainfall in the area is aseasonal and temperatures are milder than in the winter-rainfall and drier inland parts of the CFK, with implications for the management of fire regimes. We synthesised the findings of a research programme focused on informing ecologically sound management of fire in eastern coastal fynbos shrublands and explored potential east–west trends at the scales of study area and CFK in terms of fire return interval (FRI) and fire season. FRIs (8–26 years; 1980–2010) were comparable to those elsewhere in the CFK and appeared to be shorter in the eastern Tsitsikamma than in the western Outeniqua halves of the study area. Proteaceae juvenile periods (4–9 years) and post-fire recruitment success suggested that for biodiversity conservation purposes, FRIs should be ≥ 9 years in eastern coastal fynbos. Collectively, findings on the seasonality of actual fires and the seasonality of fire danger weather, lightning and post-fire proteoid recruitment suggested that fires in eastern coastal fynbos are not limited to any particular season. We articulated these findings into ecological thresholds pertaining to the different elements of the fire regime in eastern coastal fynbos, to guide adaptive management of fire in the Garden Route National Park and elsewhere in the region. Conservation implications: Wildfires are likely to remain dominant in eastern coastal fynbos, whilst large-scale implementation of prescribed burning is unattainable. Fires occurring in any season are not a reason for concern, although other constraints remain: the need for sufficient fire intensity, safety requirements, and integration of fire and invasive alien plant management.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe/article/view/1104
dc.description.versionPublisher's versionen_ZA
dc.format.extent9 pagesen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKraaij, T., Cowling, R. M. & Van Wilgen, B. W. 2013. Fire regimes in eastern coastal fynbos : imperatives and thresholds in managing for diversity. Koedoe, 55(1), Art. #1104, doi:10.4102/koedoe.v55i1.1104.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2071-0771 (online)
dc.identifier.issn0075-6458 (print)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.4102/koedoe.v55i1.1104
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/94967
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherAOSIS Publishingen_ZA
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyrighten_ZA
dc.subjectFire -- Environmental aspectsen_ZA
dc.subjectInvasive alien plants -- Managementen_ZA
dc.subjectFire regimes -- Managementen_ZA
dc.subjectFire ecology of fynbosen_ZA
dc.titleFire regimes in eastern coastal fynbos : imperatives and thresholds in managing for diversityen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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