1. GEST Global Experiment on Savanna Tree seedlings Workshop 11-14 July 2008 South Africa South Africa

2. WELCOME!

3. Sustainable Use of Wild Living Resources

4. The Sustainable Use Pyramid Defining principles, criteria and indicators for Sustainable Use of Wild Natural Resources

5. Research programme  Need for knowledge on composition, functioning and dynamics of each cornerstone, in order to maintain the biodiversity and ecological integrity across a landscape  Natural Resources: focus on savannas

6. Savanna dynamics Not a stable environment but shift in regimes

7. The Savanna Dilemma  Understanding the relationship between trees and grasses: what mechanisms make what we call a savanna staying a savanna?  Niche separation vs Demographic bottleneck theory  Non-equilibrium vs dis-equilibrium models

8. Gap to fill  Tree seedling stage  But: which environmental resources and conditions are involved at the tree seedling stage that co-shape the outcome: the co- existence of trees and grasses

9. Projects  Field experiments by Eduardo Barbosa  But: is extrapolation to other than South African savannas justified, what is the global validity?  Birth of the Global Experiment: GEST ? ? ? ?

10. The results  More high quality scientific knowledge, that helps to solve the ‘savanna dilemma’ But also:  Better understanding of the impacts of livestock grazing and agriculture  Better understanding of the impact of invasive species (biofuel feedstock)  And ultimately leading to a more sustainable use of the savannas!

11. Program Day 1  Who is who?  Programme overview, logistics  Worldwide experiment background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected results  Greenhouse experiment background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected results

12. Program Day 1 (cont.)  Presentations per continent: food for synthesis paper? food for synthesis paper? Africa Africa Australia Australia South America (2) South America (2) Asia (2) Asia (2)  30-45 min + 10 min discussion

13. Program Day 2  Visit African dry site at South African Wildlife College, by Eduardo Barbosa

14.  Discussion experiment per continent Given the basic layout… what is the additional scientific/applied problem? what is the additional scientific/applied problem? what are the hypotheses? what are the hypotheses? which experimental layout? what additional treatments? which experimental layout? what additional treatments? prepare short presentation prepare short presentation  Plenary feedback on “experiment per continent”  Concluding remarks Program Day 2 (cont.)

15. Program Day 3  Visit Kruger National Park discuss science in a different setting

16. Products of workshop  Learning (from) each other  Focusing on one experimental design: all noses in one direction  Preparing synthesis paper “Evolution and ecology of savannas around the world: differences and similarities”

17. Let us start!  Who is who?  Logistical remarks  Worldwide experiment background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected results  Greenhouse experiment background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected results