Tools basically disturb the ecosystem in some way. Sometimes they seem to remove disturbances, but this simply shifts the disturbances to another part of the system.
All disturbance affects more than one aspect of the system.
The interconnectedness of the system, and the multiplicity of effects, prevents accurate prediction of long term effects in ecosystem management. Since each tool affects all aspects of ecosystem processes differently, explanations of this holistic approach will affect management decisions. Therefore, for each tool listed below, there is a link to a description of how that tool effects ecosystem process in 4 ways. Since the study of conservation is always holistic, the ways in which tools affect different systems is as important as what the tools are. Fire Fire is a natural tool.