How have humans influenced the savanna biome?

Answer 1

Human induced land use change has a greater effect on savanna structure and NPP than any other environmental changes. Savannas generally have low human population density as their capacity to support intensive agriculture and livestock grazing are poor; however, population pressure and land-use changes are likely to be greater here than in other biomes over the coming decades. The agro-pastoral communities in savannas are highly dependent on the natural vegetation, which is vulnerable to degradation. Strong social and economic forces will continue to force the conversion of forests to savannas and grasslands to pasture or agriculture fields, although tourism is supporting conservation of large areas of savannas in Africa.

Cattle rearing has been occurring for more than 6000 years in India and Africa and was sustainable before more recent increases in population, changing social practices, colonialisation, war, extensive commercial ranching, etc. Shifting cultivation has also been practised for thousands of years, generally in areas with rainfall greater than 700mm, but this is being affected by reduced fallow periods, larger commercial operations and increased use of fertiliser and irrigation which increases short-term productivity but can lead to long term depletion of resources and environmental degradation. South American savannas are rapidly being transformed for soybean cultivation and cattle raising. Australian savannas are likely to remain as grazing lands as alternative economic land uses are limited (Young & Solbrig, 1993; Solbrig, 1996; Joe Scanlan, pers. comm.).

Humans influence savannas by managing fire, wildlife and domestic livestock, and wood and grass removals. Intensive livestock grazing, exclusion of indigenous browsers and fire prevention leads to rapid bush encroachment. In areas of high population and charcoal production, intensive wood harvesting leads to decreased woody biomass, which, combined with high grazing, leads to erosion. The same happens when fire frequency is increased and the animal load is too high (Young & Solbrig, 1993).

Answer 2

The most often-cited reason for rainforest destruction is men's need for timber. But many people do not realize, or do not care, that every tree takes up to 100 years to reach stately maturity. They don't re-plant saplings, and they cut too many trees down.

Answer 3

forest fires and over grazing are causing most of the damage to the savanna, over grazing is happening because there are too much animals grazing on the grasses of the savanna,

Hope it helped.

Answer 4

I currently did a research paper on this and it seems that current threats to savanna biomes are global warming and deforestation. And current the current threat to savanna animals is hunting

Answer 5

hunting, hunting animals in the savanna grassland kills the population

Answer 6

clearing for agriculture

Answer 7

By exploring it and taking care of it

Answer 8

wildfires