Wildfires are often perceived as destructive disturbances, but we propose that when integrating evolutionary and socioecological factors, fires in most ecosystems can be understood as natural processes that provide a variety of benefits to humankind. Wildfires generate open habitats that enable the evolution of a diversity of shade‐intolerant plants and animals that have long benefited humans. There are many provisioning, regulating, and cultural services that people obtain from wildfires, and prescribed fires and wildfire management are tools for mimicking the ancestral role of wildfires in an increasingly populated world.

中文翻译：

---

野火作为生态系统服务

野火通常被视为破坏性干扰，但我们提出，当整合进化和社会生态因素时，大多数生态系统中的火灾可以被理解为为人类提供各种好处的自然过程。野火产生了开放的栖息地，使长期造福于人类的各种不耐阴植物和动物的进化成为可能。人们可以从野火中获得许多供应、调节和文化服务，而规定的火灾和野火管理是在人口不断增加的世界中模仿野火祖先作用的工具。