Update from TipEx

After a prolonged dry season, the arrival of early rains has triggered the emergence of vegetation in our TipEx experimental plots at Hamakari farm. These savanna grassland plots have been subjected to over three years of simulated grazing (through grass clipping) and drought (through rainout shelters) to push them over a tipping point. Our local field coordinator, Dr. Mark Bilton, observed new vegetation growth around the rainout shelters, while the areas directly beneath them remain bare (Fig. 1), with vegetation seemingly having been wiped out by our grazing x drought treatment. Following last year’s poor rainy season, we are hopeful for a wetter one this year, which will allow us to further investigate differences in plant species composition and forage production under the two treatments.