Conservation should prioritize dynamic landscapes over static preservation

A new study published in BioScience challenges traditional ideas about conservation. It argues that national parks and protected areas should focus on natural landscape changes instead of trying to maintain static environments. Researchers, led by Dr. Gavin M. Jones from the USDA Forest Service, believe that current conservation methods often ignore natural processes like wildfires. This resistance can lead to more problems, especially with climate change. They warn that avoiding these natural dynamics could make ecosystems even more vulnerable to large disturbances. The study cites issues in western US forests. For example, attempts to protect mature trees by stopping natural disturbances have sometimes worsened habitat loss due to drought and wildfires. In California, the loss of mature forest habitat was found to be worse within protected areas than outside. The authors suggest a shift towards accepting and protecting natural changes in landscapes. This approach would require more human intervention and could initially lead to unexpected results, such as fewer trees. They also advocate for incorporating Indigenous knowledge and practices, like cultural burning, which have been effective in managing ecosystems for thousands of years. In conclusion, the authors emphasize that protecting environments and accepting change can go hand in hand. They call for a focus on conserving the dynamics of landscapes rather than just the landscapes themselves.