Changes to natural communities

The most obvious threat to natural resources from these changes was realized in the forested regions first. Forests were cut for lumber and to open the land for farming. As the limited agricultural potential of these areas became evident, conservation and reforestation were promoted to make the land productive again. A great public relations campaign had to be waged to reverse generations of traditional burning of the woods.

The other threat to natural resources took longer to realize and address. The complete removal of fire from some natural communities caused other problems. Species composition can change remarkably in the absence of periodic fires. Where the goal is to maintain these natural communities, land managers realized that fire must be reintroduced as a factor, but it would have to be in a way that did not threaten other surrounding natural communities or landowners. Prescribed fire was first used experimentally in the early 1970s and continues to develop as an important management tool today.