ecological problems of african savvanna author abdimudalib

1. KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCE AND APPLIED SCIENCE
NAME : ABDIMUDALIB JAMMA NOUR
REG NO. : 2022-08-12141
COURSE : MEM
COURSE UNIT : NATURAL RESOURCES ECOLOGY.
YEAR : ONE
SEMESTER : ONE
COURSE CODE : ENV7108
SSESSION : WEEKEND
LECTURER : MR. OGWAL HAROLD
QUESTION
What are the major ecological problems impacting the African savanna today?

2. Brief introduction
savanna
A savanna is a hot and dry ecosystem. Savannas contain a combination of woodlands and
grasslands, with grasses, shrubs, bushes, and scattered trees with open canopies. African
savannas are the most famous, but savannas are located around the world where rainfall
became scarce along the edges of tropical regions during the Cenozoic Era (and more
specifically the last 25 million years).
Savannas are ecosystems that became increasingly harsh in the last 25 million years, as the
climates at the edges of tropical forests became increasingly dry. Though organisms have
adapted and evolved for the harsh climate in the savanna, human impact strains the
ecosystems. First, the lesson will discuss what characterizes African savanna ecosystems
before detailing savanna threats such as climate change.
Savannas are a type of grassland. They are flat, with scattered and widely spaced trees.
Savannas are found throughout the world in both temperate and tropical regions. They can
be wet or dry. Some of the world's largest tropical savannas are found in Australia, Africa,
and South America.
African Savanna Ecosystem
Africa is a massive continent that occupies 20% of the world's land area. It has multiple
famous savanna ecosystems spanning the massive continent. African savannas include the
Serengeti in northern Tanzania, the Sudanian savanna in central Africa, and the Namibian
savanna woodlands in southwestern Africa.
There are varying levels of dryness in African savanna ecosystems, which causes varying
levels of vegetation. There are different ways of classifying savannas. Regarding vegetation,
some categories of savanna include the following:
• Savanna woodland - higher frequency of trees and shrubs, creating a light canopy.
• Tree savanna - scattered trees and shrubs; almost no canopy.
• Shrub savanna - generally no trees; only scattered shrubs and grass.
• Grass savanna - generally no trees or shrubs; only grassland.
These variations of savannas generally have to do with the availability of water and
nutrients in the soil to support trees. However, the types and species of vegetation also
vary depending on whether the savanna is tropical or subtropical, i.e., whether the savanna

3. is closer or further away from Earth's equator. Regardless, savannas are typically ecological
gradients, or transition zones, existing between rainforests, deciduous forests, and deserts.
A Savanna is the kind of biome that only allows a few living species to survive due to its
challenging conditions. The frustrating thing is that it still gets threatened due to so many
factors. Since it’s a complicated environment, you may be wondering about the threats that
it gets.
In africa, Savannas suffer from ecological problems that threaten their condition. The five
threats to Savanna are heavy grazing, climate change, human actions, exotic plant effects,
and carbon emissions.
Savannas are of great value because it provides the perfect environment for the animals
that naturally live in it. Moreover, it gives a whole load of benefits to the earth. Thus, it can
be pretty alarming to realize it gets threatened every day by many things.
what are the major ecological problems impacting the african savanna
today
1.Climate Change
This problem is quite a threat to Savannas and indeed the same to other biomes. However,
the Savanna is one of the most affected by it.
Due to small amounts of greens, this biome gets exposed to too much heat and drought.
With climate change, such periods grow worse over time.
Savannas also suffer from desertification due to climate change. It’s an effect caused by
other factors as well.
The name itself destroys the biome, turning into a dead land, a desert where no plants and
animals can survive.

4. The solution to this threat is to plant drought-resistant plants. Such plants can have the
ability to prevent shifting dunes by stabilizing them. Moreover, it can also initiate the
growth of other vegetation in the area.
2.Heavy Grazing
Grazing is quite a regular activity in Savannas, and it shouldn’t cause much of a threat.
However, it will only go as far as the inhabitant animals only do so.
The main threat in this matter is the overgrazing of other animals that humans put in
Savannas.
The thing about this biome is that it has fewer trees and lesser grass for grazing. In short,
its resources are enough only for its animal inhabitants.
Yet, it’s where humans tend to bring their animals, making the place a crowded one. It’s
also made all food insufficient, forcing its inhabitants to leave and upsetting the natural
order.
Of course, the inhabitants of Savannas have access to it, and they can naturally graze on it.
However, other animals add up to it, making the Savanna an overwhelmed place since it
lacks the other biomes’ plentiful resources.
Such a threat affects the Savanna by making drought periods worse. Since this period is a
normal one for this biome, it becomes a threat that can lead to its destruction.
In general, such a threat can change Savanna’s edible grasslands to inedible ones. The areas
with light grazing retain the quality of grass for animals.

5. However, the areas where the grass gets wiped out due to overgrazing tend to reduce the
quality. As a result, such grasses become inedible over time.
The solution to this problem, as experts suggest, is grazing management. Such a solution
will reduce the devastating effects and might preserve the quality of the grass for grazing.
3.Desertification
Tropical savannas often border on arid, desert regions, and the spread of desert-like
conditions into dry grassland areas is called desertification. This threat to a savanna
ecosystem include effects caused by climate change, farming practices, overgrazing,
aggressive agricultural irrigation, which lowers the level of the water table away from plant
roots, deforestation and erosion. Each year, over 46,000 square kilometers of African
savanna becomes desert. The planting of drought-resistant plants could stabilize shifting
sand dunes and begin the proliferation of additional vegetation.
4.Loss of Biodiversity
Human activity is leading to the extinction of species and habitats and loss of biodiversity.
Ecosystems, which took millions of years to perfect, are in danger when any species
population is decimating.
Balance of natural processes like pollination is crucial to the survival of the ecosystem, and
human activity threatens the same. Another example is the destruction of coral reefs in the
various oceans, which support the rich marine life.
5.Migration of animals
There are many different types of animals that live in the savanna. The species found in
savannas vary by the geographic location of the biome. Animals native to African savannas
include African elephants, zebras, horses, and giraffes. Many animals in the savanna are
herbivores, which means they eat plants, and there is plenty of grass in the savanna. During
the rainy months animals thrive in the savanna, but the rainy season is only half the year.
During the dry season, surface water from the rain is quickly absorbed into the ground by
thirsty soils. The competition for water during the dry season is so intense that most birds
and many of the large mammals migrate elsewhere in search of water. Depending on the
severity of the drought, the migration may be to a place nearby, or far away. The dry season
is often associated with fires.

6. 6.Soil Degradation
Globally, food security depends on the factor whether or not soils are in good condition to
produce crops. According to UN estimates, about 12 million hectares of farmland a year get
seriously degraded.
Soils get damaged due to many reasons. Such reasons include erosion, overgrazing,
overexposure to pollutants, monoculture planting, soil compaction, land-use conversion
and many more.
Nowadays, a wide range of techniques of soil conservation and restoration exist, from no-
till agriculture to crop rotation to water-retention through terrace-building.
7.Human Actions and Activities
Humans are the main threat to Savannas, and it’s all evident with the activities that affect
the said biome.
For instance, the following activities humans do in the biome threatens its integrity:
• Logging of the trees
• Land converting for agriculture
• Overgrazing of livestock
• Planting of non-native species in the biome
• Irrigation methods and water usage
• Wildlife hunting
These activities are only a few to name. However, all these things undeniably play a part in
threatening Savannas.
The best solution to these things also lies in its cause – humans. Each government or
authority over a certain Savanna should set some mandates or protocols regarding these
matters. It’s the only way to prevent humans from continuously threatening the biome.

7. 8. Effects of Exotic Plants
While exotic plants often get harvested by humans, some of them can produce a threat
themselves.
Besides these exotic species, other plants can also affect the environment of Savanna. They
are the following:
• Rhodes grass
• Giant rat’s tail grass
• Buffelgrass
• Stylos
All these plants can affect the Savanna by harming and altering its environment and life
cycle. For instance, such plants can be a doorway to frequent fire and making it worse.
Such plants can also add to the pressure on animals and give way to more competition for
sunlight and water.
Summary
Africa Savannasa are facing so many threats day by day, and it’s something we humans
need to pay attention to immediately. The biggest threats to Savanna are heavy grazing,
climate change, human actions, exotic plant effects, and animals problems.
These threats prove to have devastating effects if left unchecked. Thus, it’s not something
we need to take lightly. Another thing is that all these threats go back to one leading cause –
humans.

8. References
5 Threats to the Savanna (for 2021) | SafariNerd. safarinerd.com/threats-to-savanna/.
“Environmental Problems and Solutions of the African Savanna Grasslands.” Prezi.com,
prezi.com/p/wfiaa6k7ziig/environmental-problems-and-solutions-of-the-african-
savanna-grasslands/. Accessed 30 Oct. 2022.
Johnson, Elizabeth. “How Can We Save the Savanna Ecosystem? | AMNH.” American
Museum of Natural History, 2019, www.amnh.org/explore/ology/earth/ask-a-
scientist-about-our-environment/how-can-we-save-the-savanna-ecosystem.
Osborne, Colin P., et al. “Human Impacts in African Savannas Are Mediated by Plant
Functional Traits.” New Phytologist, vol. 220, no. 1, 28 May 2018, pp. 10–24,
10.1111/nph.15236.
Smith, Brett. “Dangers to the Savanna Ecosystem.” Sciencing, 2018, sciencing.com/dangers-
savanna-ecosystem-18220.html.
Study.com, 2022, study.com/learn/lesson/threats-savanna-human-impact-environmental-
problems-.