Protection of forests and their ecosystems is the only legitimate reason for attempting to prevent or control forest fires. Human intervention in natural processes tends to reduce the biological diversity of ecosystems. Forest fires begun by careless campers should be the target of human fire control efforts. Humans tend to view forests as well as other ecosystems as instruments for the satisfaction of human needs.
Ecologist: Forest fires, the vast majority of which are started by lightning, are not only a natural phenomenon to which all forest ecosystems are well adapted, but are required for many forests to flourish. Forest fires facilitate the opening and spreading of seed pods, prevent an overabundance of insects, and promote the diversity of forests by preventing certain varieties of aggressive weeds from dominating other species. In view of this, systematic attempts by human beings to prevent or control forest fires are ill-advised and shortsighted; forest fires should be left alone and allowed to burn themselves out naturally.
The conclusion drawn above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed?