From the introduction: 'It can be said that naturalized domestic livestock, through fire and cultivation have played a significant role in the development of proclimax vegetation communities in Africa in which grass features to a greater or lesser extent. In this they have been aided to a locally varying extent by wild ungulates having similar, though wider food preferences. Furthermore, the importance of the wealth of grass species, their stability and their maintenance, to the fauna dependent on them, wild or domesticated, must be borne in mind by all those responsible for management.' From the summary: 'Climax grassland is restricted in dimension and location in Africa. Almost invariably grassland occurs with trees and shrubs in association with some form of forest, woodland, or thicket community. These plant communities range from humid forest to arid wooded savanna conditions and support a wealth of mammal species. The communities were developed and are being maintained or modified by lightning fire, indigenous (wild) animals, and by man via his use of fire, axe, cultivation and his naturalized livestock. To emphasize the complexity of these communities reference is made to specific features such as food preferences of the wealth of associated fauna, both wild and naturalized, and to their water requirements, conversion efficiency and feeding range, and to the protein resource these mammals represent. Examples of some large elephant populations are given to illustrate the adaptability of this species even under restricted circumstances and how it can survive and even thrive under the diverse plant community changes for which it is often largely responsible. Certain it is that the elephant has played a significant role in the basic development of vegetation. As grass is the principal source of tinder and basic fuel for fire, the improtance of ensuring an adequacy of grass for fire, an essential factor in the development and maintenance of biotic communities other than those appertaining to extremes of wetness and dryness, is clear. The crude protein content of grass rises and falls very quickly. Many mammals require grass at different stages of protein, fibre, and digestibility, and indeed are able to utilize grass for their sustenance at these stages. The importance of yearlong grass availability to wild and naturalized ungulates is thus apparent. In this connexion it should be remembered that, under certain circumstances, wild ungulates are over-using vegetation more effectively than cattle and goats. The need for conservation and management of our ecosystems has always existed but with present population trends it has now become an urgent necessity because of the extent of pollution and of the steady, cumulative, and frightening deterioration of those ecosystems within the drier regions. The threat to man, livestock, wild animals, vegetation, soils, and superficial water supplies by the year 2,000 is large. Unless remedial measures are taken now, the deterioration will be very severe to severe in these drier regions. In the sandy areas, the deterioration may lead to so great a disturbance of the surface soils that restoration of the original vegetative condition will be impossible (Phillips, 1970a).'