Savanna fires in east-central Senegal: Distribution patterns, resource management and perceptions

The temporal and spatial distribution of fires for an area in east-central Senegal was determined on the basis of multi-temporal NOAA AVHRR satellite images. Three years of data (1990-1992) were analyzed defining the boundary between, two different fire regimes: very few and scattered fires to the n orth with the majority of fires south Of the boundary. This boundary was st able for the three dry seasons examined and was identical to the northernmo st extension of fires as determined by visual inspection of a hard copy Lan dsat image mosaic. Fire frequencies were analyzed in relation to dominant v egetation types and yearly precipitation, and the findings compared to resu lts of a field survey of the local population's perceptions of the causes a nd implications of fires. Survey results clearly showed that the use of fir es in the study area is closely linked to the utilization of the environmen t for livestock grazing and crop production. We conclude that the local pop ulation has a high degree of awareness about the application of fire, that different fire use practices concerning carl be identified respectively irt the grasslands of the northern and the savanna of the southern parts of th e study area, and that these practices reflect a well adapted production st rategy. Finally, we recommned policy decisions be more flexible in the ligh t of local understanding of fire use.