GESTGEST

GGlobal lobal EExperiment on xperiment on SSavanna avanna TTree seedlingsree seedlings

Workshop 11-14 July 2008Workshop 11-14 July 2008

South AfricaSouth Africa

WELCOME!WELCOME!

Sustainable Use of Sustainable Use of Wild Living Resources Wild Living Resources

The Sustainable Use PyramidThe Sustainable Use Pyramid

Defining principles, criteria and indicators for Sustainable Use of Wild Natural Resources

Research programmeResearch programme

Need for knowledge on composition, Need for knowledge on composition, functioning and dynamics of each functioning and dynamics of each cornerstone, in order to maintain the cornerstone, in order to maintain the biodiversity and ecological integrity across biodiversity and ecological integrity across a landscapea landscape

Natural Resources: Natural Resources:

focus on savannasfocus on savannas

Savanna dynamicsSavanna dynamics

Not a stable environment but shift in regimes

The Savanna DilemmaThe Savanna Dilemma

Understanding the relationship between Understanding the relationship between trees and grasses: what mechanisms trees and grasses: what mechanisms make what we call a savanna staying a make what we call a savanna staying a savanna?savanna?

Niche separation vs Demographic Niche separation vs Demographic bottleneck theorybottleneck theory

Non-equilibrium vs dis-equilibrium modelsNon-equilibrium vs dis-equilibrium models

Gap to fillGap to fill

Tree seedling stageTree seedling stage

But: which environmental resources and But: which environmental resources and conditions are involved at the tree seedling conditions are involved at the tree seedling stage that co-shape the outcome: the co-stage that co-shape the outcome: the co-existence of trees and grasses existence of trees and grasses

ProjectsProjects

Field experiments by Eduardo BarbosaField experiments by Eduardo Barbosa

But: is extrapolation to other than South But: is extrapolation to other than South African savannas justified, what is the African savannas justified, what is the global validity?global validity?

Birth of the Birth of the

Global Experiment: Global Experiment:

GEST GEST ?

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?

The resultsThe results

More high quality scientific knowledge, More high quality scientific knowledge, that helps to solve the ‘savanna dilemma’that helps to solve the ‘savanna dilemma’

But also: But also: Better understanding of the impacts of Better understanding of the impacts of

livestock grazing and agriculturelivestock grazing and agriculture Better understanding of the impact of Better understanding of the impact of

invasive species (biofuel feedstock)invasive species (biofuel feedstock)

And ultimately leading to a more And ultimately leading to a more sustainable use of the savannas! sustainable use of the savannas!

Program Day 1Program Day 1 Who is who?Who is who?

Programme overview, logisticsProgramme overview, logistics

Worldwide experimentWorldwide experimentbackground, aim, questions, hypotheses, background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected resultsexpected results

Greenhouse experimentGreenhouse experimentbackground, aim, questions, hypotheses, background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected resultsexpected results

Program Day 1 (cont.)Program Day 1 (cont.)

Presentations per continent: Presentations per continent: food for synthesis paper?food for synthesis paper?

AfricaAfrica AustraliaAustralia South America (2)South America (2) Asia (2)Asia (2)

30-45 min + 10 min discussion30-45 min + 10 min discussion

Program Day 2Program Day 2

Visit African dry siteVisit African dry siteat South African Wildlife College, by Eduardo Barbosa at South African Wildlife College, by Eduardo Barbosa

Discussion experiment per continentDiscussion experiment per continentGiven the basic layout…Given the basic layout… what is the what is the additionaladditional scientific/applied problem? scientific/applied problem? what are the hypotheses?what are the hypotheses? which experimental layout? what which experimental layout? what additional additional treatments?treatments? prepare short presentationprepare short presentation

Plenary feedback on “experiment per continent”Plenary feedback on “experiment per continent”

Concluding remarksConcluding remarks

Program Day 2 (cont.)Program Day 2 (cont.)

Program Day 3Program Day 3

Visit Kruger National ParkVisit Kruger National Parkdiscuss science in a different settingdiscuss science in a different setting

Products of workshopProducts of workshop

Learning (from) each otherLearning (from) each other

Focusing on one experimental design: Focusing on one experimental design: all noses in one directionall noses in one direction

Preparing synthesis paper “Evolution Preparing synthesis paper “Evolution and ecology of savannas around the and ecology of savannas around the world: differences and similarities”world: differences and similarities”

Let us start!Let us start! Who is who?Who is who?

Logistical remarksLogistical remarks

Worldwide experimentWorldwide experimentbackground, aim, questions, hypotheses, background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected resultsexpected results

Greenhouse experimentGreenhouse experimentbackground, aim, questions, hypotheses, background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected resultsexpected results