Of course, the ecology adapted to one with extensive fires, that repeatedly reset the plant succession. The notion that fires “do harm to nature” is not really one that stands up well to analysis.
Any large wooded area that didn’t have fires would soon reach climax forest and stay there. Which would be very bad news for the majority of plants and animals that can’t live in such an environment.
For the most part, climax forests are relatively sterile places. The most productive natural environments are usually “edge” environments, where, for instance, meadows intermingle with forest.
Kinda debunks the "Old Growth" forest crap, doesn't it.
I'm not saying I think that natives were bad, they did what they had to in order to live. I'm just sick and tired of people harkening back to the bad old days thinking they were so peaceful and bucolic.