Dr. Benjamin Wigley is a South African ecologist known for his research on African savanna ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate change impacts. His work focuses on the interactions between vegetation, fire, herbivory, and land use, particularly in Southern Africa. By improving understanding of ecosystem dynamics, his research informs conservation planning and sustainable land management, contributing to the resilience of biodiversity-rich areas in a changing climate.
Dr. Benjamin Wigley’s work in the savanna landscapes of Southern Africa offers a clear example of how land use impacts biodiversity. His research shows that overgrazing, removal of fires and changes in land use practices can result in increased woody cover (especially encroaching shrub species) and alter fire regimes, leading to habitat degradation. These ecological changes can negatively affect human well-being. For example, biodiversity loss reduces ecosystem services such as grazing for livestock, and natural buffers against drought.
