Many savanna-dependent species in Africa including large herbivores and apex predators are at increasing
risk of extinction. Achieving effective management of protected areas (PAs) in Africa where lions live will cost
an estimated US$ >1–2 billion/year in new funding. We explore the potential for fire-management-based carbon
financing programs to fill this funding gap and benefit degrading savanna ecosystems. We demonstrate
how introducing early dry season fire management programs could produce potential carbon revenues
(PCRs) from either a single carbon financing method (avoided emissions) or from multiple sequestration
methods ranging from US$ 59.6–655.9 million/year (at US$ 5/ton) or US$ 155.0 million/year to US$ 1.7
billion/year (at US$ 13/ton). We highlight variable but significant PCRs for savanna PAs from US$ 1.5–44.4
million/year per PA. We suggest investing in fire management programs to jump-start the United Nations
Decade of Ecological Restoration to help restore degraded African savannas and conserve imperiled
keystone herbivores and apex predators.