ABSTRACT
Dry forests and woodlands as defined in Chapter 2, make up most of the sub-Saharan grazing lands that support large populations and biomass of both wild (native) and domesticated (exotic) mammalian herbivores. In most African dry forests and woodlands the biomass of domestic livestock equals or exceeds that of wild herbivores (Cumming, 1982; Mott et al, 1985). For example, average biomass of wild and domestic herbivores in nine southern African countries (Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) is estimated at 370 ± 80 and 2620 ± 630kg per km2, respectively (du Toit and Cumming, 1999). Similarly the biomass of 1543kg per km2 of wild animals in Lolldaiga Hills ranch in Laikipia district in Kenya was lower than that of 6512kg per km2 of cattle and sheep (Mizutani, 1999). However, the wild herbivore fauna is the most diverse, especially in eastern and southern Africa. In contrast, western African dry forests and woodlands currently support lower numbers and smaller biomass of wild herbivores due to a number of factors, including high hunting pressure, impoverished soils and low quality vegetation with a low carrying capacity (Frost et al, 1986). Carrying capacity determines the maximum livestock and/or wildlife population that a habitat or ecosystem can support on a sustainable basis. The carrying capacity concept has particular relevance in the management of wildlife and livestock in African dry forests and woodlands where animal production is largely based on free-ranging regimes. It is for this reason that this chapter concentrates on free ranging wildlife and livestock.
