Essay topics: In the United States, it had been common practice since the late 1960s not to suppress natural forest fires. The “let it burn” policy assumed that forest fires would burn themselves out quickly, without causing much damage. However, in t

Both the reading and the lecture discuss the “let it burn”policy. The reading supports the idea that this policy should be replaced with the extinguishing forest fires as soon as they appeared, and it provides three reasons of support. However, in the lecture, the professor says that fires are a natural part of forests. She says that actually fires play a creative role in forests and it is beneficial for forests.

First, the reading asserts that the Yellowstone fires caused a huge damage to the park’s trees and other vegetation. The professor refutes this point by explaining that after that fire the vegetation diversity of the forest increased. New vegetation found an opportunity to grow there, because open lands were available. Moreover, there are some seeds which they would not germinate unless they get into high temperature and the fire provided that condition for them.Thus, the fire enhanced the vegetation diversity of the Yellowstone park.

Second, the reading claims that fires would effect animals too, since they would destroy their habitat and their food chain. However, the professor contradicts this by saying that animals would get benefits too. She says that in open-lands, created after fires, small plants can grow, which would create a great habitat for small animals like rabbits. Also, since new plants start growing after fire, certain food chain would get stronger. Therefore, fires in forests could benefits animals too.

Finally, the reading implies that the fires have a negative effect on tourist attraction, which consequently has a negative effect on local economy. The professor opposes this idea by saying that this would be true if the fires happened every year. But the true is that the fires appear in special conditions, when the rain fall is low and the weather is to hot. For example, the Yellowstone did not have any other huge fire since 1988. So, tourists came back the year after the fire happened.