ABSTRACT
A considerable literature exists on the effects of fire in woodland and grassland environments in Africa. Major reviews have been published by Daubernmire (1968), West (1965), Hopkins (1965) and others. These publications have not however, removed the controversy surrounding the use of fire; ‘to burn or not to burn, to burn early or late in the dry season, to burn annually or at what intervals?’ With such a choice of fire regimes, variety of habitats, soil types, and climatic regimes in Africa; and the differing end point requirements of foresters, agriculturalists, livestock managers and wildlife managers, it is not surprising that controversy exists.
