Introduction

A groundbreaking study published in BioScience is shaking up the conservation world, urging a radical departure from the conventional wisdom of static protected areas like national parks and wilderness reserves.

The authors, led by Dr. Gavin M. Jones from the USDA Forest Service, argue that we must embrace the natural dynamics of landscapes rather than striving to preserve them in a fixed state.

The Backfire Effect

The researchers assert that traditional conservation efforts often hinder essential ecosystem processes, such as wildfires, which can inadvertently lead to a situation termed the 'backfire effect.'