Why wildfires are necessary - Jim Schulz
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-wildfires-are-necessary-jim-schulz Our early ancestors relied on lightning to cause forest fires, from which they could collect coals and burning...
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There was a time before our ancestors smashed flint and steel together, when they felt the cold lack of fire in their lives. But anthropologists theorize that early hominids relied on lightning to cause forest fires, from which they could collect coals and burning sticks. Fire gave them the ability to cook food and clear land, and became central in many rituals and traditions. So instead of seeing forest fires as an exclusively bad thing, ancient humans may have learned to appreciate them. Yet, it wasn't just humans who benefitted from these natural phenomena. Even as they destroy trees, fires also help the forest themselves, however counterintuitive that seems. In fact, several forest species, such as select conifers, need fire to survive. Bu...
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There was a time before our ancestors smashed flint and steel together, when they felt the cold lack of fire in their lives. But anthropologists theorize that early hominids relied on lightning to cause forest fires, from which they could collect coals and burning sticks. Fire gave them the ability to cook food and clear land, and became central in many rituals and traditions. So instead of seeing forest fires as an exclusively bad thing, ancient humans may have learned to appreciate them. Yet, it wasn't just humans who benefitted from these natural phenomena. Even as they destroy trees, fires also help the forest themselves, however counterintuitive that seems. In fact, several forest species, such as select conifers, need fire to survive. Bu...
