The Carmel fire and its conservation repercussions

The forest fire in Mt. Carmel National Park in Israel in 1989 resembled the 1988 fire in Yellowstone Park in that public concern motivated the authorities to appoint professional committees to assess rehabilitation options and fire policies. The committees re-evaluated the goals and practices of nature conservation and management in protected areas, in a much broader context than just fire prevention. The recognition of the dynamic nature of ecosystems, the low predictability of their behaviour, and the role of fire as a disturbance agent that promotes biodiversity, contributed to recommendations of minimal intervention, allowing self-regeneration. The Israeli committee commissioned an interdisciplinary research program designed to direct post-fire and fire-reduction management, and provide insights for planning for the region as a biosphere reserve. The results of this three-year program are reported in this issue.