Unprecedented growth and global expansion of human populations over the last 100 years has resulted in the widespread degradation of natural ecosystems. Of equal concern is the basic failure of people to appreciate the ecological, economic and social values of the services natural ecosystems provide and the ultimate impacts of their loss.

Is it fair that some people live in a clean and healthy environment, while others live under oppressive, hazardous or ugly conditions? Is it fair that some reap the benefits of development, but fail to bear the cost of air, noise or water pollution resulting from the services they exploit?

Conservation Biology is an amalgamation of a number of scientific and social sciences, that has resulted from an increased awareness of the need to protect living organisms and the ecosystems that support them. This new discipline " ... provides the intellectual and technical tools that will anticipate, prevent, minimize and/or repair ecological damage ..." (New 2000, p2) resulting from anthropogenic activities.

The use of fire in Western Australia to manage forest ecosystems is contentious. There is huge disagreement between scientists, the environmental movement and members of the general public over the effects of prescribed burning. Some believe that the Australian flora and fauna has adapted to fire over time and needs it for their continued survival. Others perceive prescribed burning as damaging to biota. A final group of people thinks we should be applying the precautionary principle to prescribed burning. This disagreement is present due to the slim knowledge we have on fire and its management. No one really knows, how, when or if we should use prescribed burning.