Andriantsilavo H. I. Razafimanantsoa

University of Cape Town | UCT · Department of Geological Sciences

Madagascar is a regional diversity centre of the plant genus Erica L. (heathers; anjavidy in Malagasy), with 35 species currently recognised. There is no modern taxonomic treatment of the group, and many collections remain unidentified. We review the taxonomic history of Malagasy Erica , built largely on the 1927 revision by Perrier de la Bâthie, w...

The aim of this study is to provide the drivers of long-term fire dynamics in various regions of Sub-Saharan Africa using a synthesis of updated sedimentary charcoal records, from 25,000 years ago to the present. We used the charcoal data currently available in the Global Paleofire Database, updated with the most recent published charcoal data, to...

Modern pollen rain contributes to calibrating and defining palaeo-records relative to the current vegetation of diverse landscapes. Quantifying past vegetation change is important to better frame sustainable and resilient management methods of biodiversity considering human needs. In this paper, we aim to assess modern pollen assemblages in differe...

Planting trees is proposed as an important climate mitigation tool, but can be detrimental to biodiversity and livelihoods if not carefully planned and managed, with landscape history and livelihoods in mind. In Madagascar, deforestation is of concern, and a threat to forest-adapted biota. However, much of Madagascar’s landscape harbours ancient mo...

In this storybook, we present a series of stories from Africa to illuminate the factors that constrain or enable social equity in nature-based solutions. These fictionalised stories are based on the experiences and reflections of researchers and practitioners, and bring local voices to the fore. The accompanying illustrations include reflections th...

Modern pollen studies are valuable for the calibration of pollen records and contribute to the understanding of past vegetation dynamics. Here, we present a qualitative review of available published and (where possible) unpublished modern pollen studies conducted in tropical Africa since pollen analysis emerged as a discipline in the early 20th cen...

Global change in its various expressions has impacted the structure and function of ecosystems worldwide, compromising the provision of fundamental ecosystems services and creating a predicament for the societies that benefit from them. Restoration ecology plays a key role in securing ecological integrity and societal wellbeing, and hence represent...