Fire Ecology and Community-Based Fire Management in the Guinea Savanna of Kaduna State

Fire is a dominant ecological process in Guinea savanna ecosystems across northern Nigeria, shaping vegetation structure, nutrient cycling, and wildlife habitat, yet fire management in Kaduna State remains ad hoc and poorly integrated with ecological knowledge of fire behaviour and effect. Community-based fire management has demonstrated effectiveness in analogous savanna systems in West Africa, but its applicability under the specific social and ecological conditions of Kaduna State has not been empirically evaluated. This study investigates fire ecology and tests the effectiveness of community-based early burning as a fire management intervention in Guinea savanna communities of Kaduna State. Satellite-derived fire data from MODIS products was used to characterise spatial and temporal fire patterns across the study area over twelve years. Vegetation monitoring in paired early-burned, late-burned, and fire-excluded plots assessed the effects of burning regime on grass biomass, woody plant density, species richness, and wildlife habitat quality. Community consultations and governance assessments evaluated the feasibility and institutional requirements for community-based fire management expansion. Early burning produced significantly higher post-fire grass biomass recovery and greater species richness than late burning, while also reducing wildfire intensity in adjacent landscape units. Community acceptance of early burning was high where traditional burning knowledge was retained and respected. Governance assessments identified limited ranger engagement capacity and absent legal frameworks for community fire authority as key constraints. The study recommends formal recognition of community fire management rights in the Kaduna State Forest Regulations alongside capacity building for early burning practice. Keywords: fire ecology, community fire management, Guinea savanna, Kaduna State, early burning