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Creative destruction: from fire ecology to management principles—a conceptual review
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DOI：10.3389/ffgc.2026.1882526.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
This conceptual review aims to synthesize fire management principles that have the potential to restore and conserve biodiversity and ecosystem processes; avert catastrophic events and ensure the sustainable use of ecosystem resources; goals that are often perceived as conflicting but can be addressed synergistically. To achieve this; we first examine the role of fire in natural systems. Fire regimes operating across specific spatiotemporal scales and exhibiting particular patterns are conceptualized as potentially creative; regulating species diversity; ecosystem resilience and landscape configuration. Within the contemporary Non-Equilibrium ecological paradigm; the structural and creative role of fire is analyzed across four domains: evolution; community assembly; landscape structure and ecosystem functioning. Building on this framework; we identify key conceptual principles for managing anthropogenic fire disturbances as creative ecological drivers. To further substantiate fire management principles and management’s creative potential; we critically assess a series of fire-related case studies in mediterranean-type ecosystems: managed wildfires; prescribed burning; pyrosilviculture; cultural burning and shepherding for wildfire adaptation. The results of ecological theory and empirical evidence highlight the capacity of fire management to regulate community assembly; facilitate species co-existence; generate landscape heterogeneity; influence ecosystem processes; and shape evolutionary trajectories. We argue that these insights support a paradigm shift in contemporary fire management: from a predominantly suppressive and preventive approach to one that recognizes fire as a creative tool for integrated and adaptive interventions in fire-prone landscapes.
Keywords:
disturbance
fire
niche construction
management options
mediterranean-type ecosystems
pyrodiversity
Journal
F
IF:
3.2
Papers:
373
Citations:
4.0K
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Cited Papers