Abstract Fire can be extremely harmful to sensitive ecosystems such as rainforests while maintaining the structure and composition of savanna environments. That is because historically, rainforest species have not been subjected to recurring fires requiring physiological and structural survival adaptations. In savannas, in turn, fire is a natural component that has shaped the species evolution for thousands of years. Natural lightning fires in savannas are usually of low intensity, more patchy, less extensive and have potential to control the fuel accumulation. On the other hand, wildfires, which usually occur late in the dry season and are caused by humans, are more intense, severe and extensive. Thus, fire exclusion policies in fire-prone ecosystems can trigger fire regimes that are incompatible with biodiversity conservation. From this perspective, environmental managers and policy makers have been looking for more efficient fire management practices in protected areas by introducing a more integrated and adaptive approach. The new practices have already shown significant results not only in reducing the areas hit by high severity fires but also in the costs involving firefighting operations. In this article, we discuss the dual character of fire and potential negative effects on biodiversity when presented under inappropriate regimes.

中文翻译：

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好火，坏火：看谁烧

摘要 火灾对热带雨林等敏感生态系统极为有害，同时会保持热带稀树草原环境的结构和组成。这是因为从历史上看，雨林物种没有遭受需要生理和结构生存适应的反复火灾。反过来，在稀树草原，火是影响物种进化数千年的自然成分。热带稀树草原中的自然闪电火通常强度低、分布更广、范围更小，并且具有控制燃料积累的潜力。另一方面，通常发生在旱季后期并由人为引起的野火更加强烈、严重和广泛。因此，易发生火灾的生态系统中的火灾排除政策可能会引发与生物多样性保护不相容的火灾制度。从这个角度来看，环境管理者和政策制定者一直在通过引入更综合和适应性更强的方法，在保护区寻找更有效的火灾管理实践。新做法已经显示出显着效果，不仅可以减少受高危火灾影响的区域，还可以降低涉及消防行动的成本。在本文中，我们讨论了火灾的双重特征以及在不适当的制度下呈现时对生物多样性的潜在负面影响。新做法已经显示出显着效果，不仅可以减少受高危火灾影响的区域，还可以降低涉及消防行动的成本。在本文中，我们讨论了火灾的双重特征以及在不适当的制度下呈现时对生物多样性的潜在负面影响。新做法已经显示出显着效果，不仅可以减少受高危火灾影响的区域，还可以降低涉及消防行动的成本。在本文中，我们讨论了火灾的双重特征以及在不适当的制度下呈现时对生物多样性的潜在负面影响。