That human land use destroys natural ecosystems is an oft-cited
assumption in conservation, but ecologists have discovered that instead,
traditional ranching techniques in the African savanna enhance the local
abundance of wild, native animals. These results offer a new perspective on the
roles humans play in natural systems, and inform ongoing discussions about land
management and biodiversity conservation.
For thousands of years, pastoralists in East African
savannas have penned their cattle overnight in brush-walled corrals, called
bomas. Bomas remain in use for about a year, resulting in tons of manure that
fertilizes these small areas. After abandonment, a lush carpet of grass springs
up and these fertile “glades” – sometimes as large as a football field – remain
visibly distinct from the surrounding savanna for over a century.