The National Science Foundation Division of Environmental Biology awarded the University of California, Santa Barbara $670,447 on November 1, 2026, under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to conduct collaborative research on pyrogenic carbon dynamics in savanna ecosystems.
The research applies a novel biogeochemical approach to study environmental factors controlling the production and preservation of pyrogenic carbon (PYC)—a highly resistant, charcoal-like material produced by fire that can trap carbon in soils. The team will examine and compare distinct savanna sites in the United States and South Africa, leveraging a long-term monitoring network in Kruger National Park, South Africa, and spatially sampling soils across fire, vegetation, and soil gradients. The work addresses two objectives: quantifying patterns of PYC accumulation by analyzing labile, semi-labile, and stable pools of PYC in tropical and temperate savannas, and understanding processes controlling PYC turnover. The research is intended to develop practical guidelines enabling fire managers to incorporate long-term carbon storage into conservation and restoration goals for savanna ecosystems.
Performance occurs at Santa Barbara, California, with a period of performance from November 1, 2026, through October 31, 2029. The award is classified as a Project Grant under the Biological Sciences program, which supports basic and applied research to advance the biological sciences and strengthen the Nation's scientific enterprise.