1. Tropical Rainy: Tropical Wet & Dry: Savannas

2. Tropical Savannas
Tropical Savannas or Grasslands are associated with the tropical wet and dry climate type, but are not generally considered to be a climax community. Instead, savannas develop in regions where the climax community should be some form of forest or woodland, but continuous disturbances, such as drought or flooding, prevent the establishment of those species of trees. They are found in the latitudes between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. 2

3. The following slides tell the story of climate change in East Africa3

4. Climate
A tropical wet and dry climate predominates in areas covered by savanna growth. Mean monthly temperatures are at or above 64° F and annual precipitation averages between 30 and 50 inches. For at least five months of the year, during the dry season, less than 4 inches a month are received. The dry season is associated with the low sun period.
At times, parts of the savannas have temperature increases and precipitation decreases causing drought, where as, other times there is the opposite and flooding occurs.

5. Why is it important to learn about climate change in East Africa?
Climate change affects all parts of the globe.
Our actions in the US affect other countries.
How?
Climate change in other parts of the world affects the US.
Why?
What we learn about climate change in East Africa can help us understand climate change elsewhere. 5 5

6. Greenhouse gases from the US contribute to changes in climate in other parts of the world.
When people cut forests or remove vegetation in other parts of the world, it reduces the amount of oxygen produced globally.
We rely on resources that come from all over the world for food, medicine, raw materials, and energy.
What we learn about climate change in one part of the world, can help us understand climate change elsewhere. 6

7. What is causing climate change?
Human activities are changing the environment.
One of the causes is the greenhouse effect.
Increased levels of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), from various sources of pollution create a layer in the atmosphere that reflects back more heat to the earth than would occur naturally, causing a rise in average global temperatures.
Average temperatures around the world are rising as a result of the greenhouse effect.
When temperatures rise there is increased evaporation and changes in rainfall patterns. 7

8. 8 8

9. Heavy Rains & Floods
While climate change is causing a decrease in average yearly precipitation in the savanna, it is also changing the timing and intensity of rainfall.
There is an increased incidence of storms with heavy rainfall.
When it rains too much at one time, rivers can flood, causing soil erosion, damaging crops and homes, and washing accumulated contaminants into the drinking water, causing a rise in diseases. 9 9

10. Drought:
A long period of dry weather that can cause crop failure. This can occur when there are high temperatures and lower precipitation. This corn field was affected by drought. Corn is a major food source for people of this savanna.
Photo credit: Dwigt Sieggreen 10 10

11. Vegetation
Savannas are characterized by a continuous cover of perennial grasses, often 3 to 6 feet tall at maturity. They may or may not also have an open canopy of drought-resistant, fire-resistant, trees, or an open shrub layer.

12. Climate Change affects
Savanna Vegetation
Different plants grow- usually smaller
Food for livestock changes
Farming options
Growing season: length and timing changes
Type of crops grown
Productivity of crops
Climate change affects the natural savanna vegetation, including what species will grow, how well they cover the soil, and what species grow that are good for cattle and other livestock to graze on.
Climate change also affects what crops can be grown in the savanna, when they can be planted, and how much they will produce. 12 12

13. Climate change affects the natural savanna vegetation, including what species will grow, how well they cover the soil, and what species grow that are good for cattle and other livestock to graze on.
Climate change also affects what crops can be grown in the savanna, when they can be planted, and how much they will produce. 13

14. Grazing
Large mammals such as the elephant open wooded lands by debarking the trees and by knocking them over. This opens spots in the woodlands to the invasion of grasses and attracts a variety of grazing animals, including zebras, wildebeest, and the diverse antelopes of the Ethiopian province. Grazers will both eat and trample tree seedlings, inhibiting the regrowth of the woodland. Only well-armed species of shrubs and trees can establish themselves in the clearings.
Overgrazing: if a grass savanna is overgrazed, patches of bare ground will be created. The bare ground will suffer from increased evaporation and only drought-resistant species can become established.
Livestock need wide areas to graze. Land management decisions are made at all levels
Herders need to decide:
How many and what kinds of livestock to keep (cattle, sheep, goats, camels).
Where to graze their livestock, and for how long.
Communities need to decide:
Where and when grazing will be permitted.
How to respect the needs of herders and farmers
Where there are many farms, it is hard for herders to keep their livestock out of the crops, and farmers may object to herders grazing nearby.
On the other hand, livestock can eat crop residue (left over after the harvest), cleaning the fields for the farmer and leaving behind fertilizer in the form of manure.
Governments need to make policies about:
Where grazing is allowed.
Where land is set aside for wildlife.
How to work out conflicts between wildlife, farmers, and herders. 14

15. Livelihood Systems People who live in the savannas
Have different roles in their
community, most effected by the
characteristics of their
geographic location.
In the East African savanna there
are three main sources of
income:
Raise Livestock
Farming
Non-farm income (running a business or getting a job)
In the East African savanna there are three main sources of income:
Keeping livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, or camels)
Farming, or
Non-farm income (running a business or getting a job)
Families need to make choices about how to support their household by choosing among these options. 15 15

16. Farming 16 Farming is another livelihood option in the savanna.
Maize (corn dried and used for cornmeal) is a common crop.
Sorghum and millet are traditional grains that are better adapted to dry climates.
Farming in the savanna is increasing because:
Some farmers are moving into the savanna from other areas.
Some herders are beginning to farm to earn additional income.
When people choose farming as a livelihood, they need to have land, labor, and seeds to successfully farm. They also need to be able to sell what is not for their own use.
Farmers have to make choices about what crops to grow, where to plant, and how much of each crop to plant.
Photo Credit: Jennifer M. Olson 16 16

17. Farming is another livelihood option in the savanna.
Maize (corn dried and used for cornmeal) is a common crop.
Sorghum and millet are traditional grains that are better adapted to dry climates.
Farming in the savanna is increasing because:
Some farmers are moving into the savanna from other areas.
Some herders are beginning to farm to earn additional income.
When people choose farming as a livelihood, they need to have land, labor, and seeds to successfully farm. They also need to be able to sell what is not for their own use.
Farmers have to make choices about:
what crops to grow
where to plant
how much of each crop to plant 17

18. Farm in Forest 18
Photo Credit: Jennifer M. Olson 18

19. Other land uses include:
Cutting trees for construction, firewood, and making charcoal for local use, or for sale elsewhere (trees are also cut to make new lands available for farming).
Commercial or industrial development. 19

20. Climate can have and effect on crops grown
The growing season will shorten
Corn will not grow in drier climates
How much food the crops will yield
As temperatures rise and rainfall patterns change, farmers will no longer be able to grow the same crops, or may experience lower yields or more frequent crop failures. 20 20

21. Raise Livestock 21 21

22. People have to make decisions about how to earn a living, by having livestock, farming, getting jobs, or a combination of all three.
Herders have to decide how much livestock to keep, which kinds of livestock to keep (cattle, goats, sheep, camels), and where to take them to graze.
Farmers have to decide what crops to grow, and how much of each crop to grow. Maize is a staple food crop that is typically grown in the area, sometimes with beans, although sorghum and millet are better adapted to the climate.
Households have to decide if someone in the family should look for a job, and whether or not to migrate. 22

23. Non-Farm Income 23 23

24. Other livelihood options in the savanna include: Restaurants Stores
Or jobs in
Tourism (e.g. game parks)
Education (e.g. teachers)
Transportation (truck driver; taxi driver)
When there are not enough jobs locally, some family members may migrate to other parts of the country or region to look for work. 24

25. Land Management
Decisions about how to manage the land are made at different levels:
Household
Community
Regional
Land in the savanna
can be used for:
Grazing livestock
Farming
Wildlife
Firewood and other uses 25 25

26. Farming Farm in Savanna
Farmers have to make management decisions about what land to use for farming, what crops to grow, and when to grow them.
Farming
Photo Credit: Jennifer M. Olson 26 26

27. Farms Expanding into Savanna27
Photo Credit: Jennifer M. Olson 27

28. One of the biggest changes in land use in the East African savanna is the expansion of farming into grazing areas.
Population pressures, government policies, and the need to have different sources of income have caused people to start farming in areas that used to be used for grazing.
Some of these people are farmers moving in from other areas, and some are herders who have begun farming to supplement their income.
The savanna ecosystem is fragile, and farming can cause greater environmental degradation.
Farming is more vulnerable to changes in climate than grazing because crops require more water than forage, and crops are more sensitive to temperature. 28