Savannas are important nationally and inter-
nationally. They cover about 20% of the world’s
land surface and about 20% of the Australian
continent. The many different types of savanna we
see in Australia reflect broad differences in rainfall
and soil patterns, but the basic climate of the savannas
makes them all prone to fire and frequent fire in
particular. Hence, to understand and manage
savannas we need to understand not only how
climate and soil influence them, but how fire has
shaped, and will continue to shape, the savanna
landscapes.
