Citation
The report of the Ecological Society of America Committee on the Scientific Basis for Ecosystem Management
TL;DR
Fire is a natural and necessary part of many ecosystem dynamics
This influential synthesis from the Ecological Society of America argued for fire's ecological role in ecosystem management, fundamentally shifting policy after the 1988 Yellowstone fires. The report established that disturbance is not destruction but a natural part of ecosystem dynamics that often enhances long-term health.
The policy implications parallel organizational thinking: rather than preventing all 'failures' or 'endings,' healthy organizations should recognize that periodic decomposition of obsolete elements is necessary for regeneration and long-term vitality.
Key Findings from Christensen et al. (1996)
- Fire is a natural and necessary part of many ecosystem dynamics
- Suppressing natural disturbance often leads to larger, more destructive events later
- Ecosystem management should work with natural processes including decomposition and disturbance