Canadian Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences

Abstract: Recurrent fires have a considerable potential to influence the structure and composition of savanna vegetation. In Mole National Park in Ghana, the policy is to burn the vegetation annually, early in the dry season. This paper examines the likely effects of these regular fires on the population dynamics of five tree species in the park using matrix model projections. The matrix manipulations were programmed using the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software. The model is based on analyses and data put forward in Sackey (2006), as well as data on fire impacts and seedling production and growth of woody species recently obtained by Sackey and Imoro (unpublished study) from a savanna vegetation near Mole National Park. The model results show that annual burns will lead to changes in the relative abundance, as well as a decline in the density of all five tree species. The results also show that Burkea africana and Terminalia spp. require a minimum fire-free interval of > 2 years for their persistence, while 2 years minimum burning interval is required for the maintenance of Acacia dudgeoni, Combretum adenogonium and Vitellaria paradoxa. A minimum fire-free interval of > 3 years on a rotational system is suggested for the persistence of the majority of the woody plant species in the park.