Flight of the Phoenix

Throughout this book we present a compelling case for the ecological importance of mixed-severity wildfires in forests (though some chaparral systems currently experience too much fire), including, in many cases, megafires from western North America. Stand-replacing fire disturbances are under-appreciated natural events that have been shaping fire-dependent ecosystems for millennia, and their ecosystem benefits are being compromised by management actions that carry unintended consequences. Mimicking the spatial, temporal, and structural heterogeneity of these fire effects through management is not possible. Moreover, fire management actions such as forest thinning, mastication, and postfire logging are creating novel fire regimes at the expense of historical ones. Dramatic improvements in fire management and public perceptions of wildfire are needed to accommodate wildfires where they are beneficial. We provide several closing recommendations for addressing public safety concerns and ecological use of fire in natural areas.