Decline of the mountain acacia, Brachystegia glaucescens in Gonarezhou National Park, southeast Zimbabwe

The objectives of the study were to investigate the role of fire and other factors in the decline of the mountain acacia, Brachystegia glaucescens Burtt Davy & Hutch. in the northern region of the Gonarezhou National Park, southeast Zimbabwe. The study site, which is a wilderness area, has suffered a succession of fires which, coupled with elephant pressure and drought, has reduced what was once woodland into scrubland. With the grass continuously burnt off, very few grazing animals can be found in the area and erosion of the unprotected slopes has left it rocky and barren. The paper attempts to analyse field observations using established ordination and statistical procedures. The conclusions that both fire and elephant damage are powerful factors leading to loss the loss of B. glaucescens woodland are established. The findings should be considered in setting management goals and monitoring their effects, particularly in measures that encourage restoration of the woodland.