Allen suggests that the intertwined forces of fire and climate change will take ecosystems into new territory, not only in the American west but also elsewhere around the world.
The Amazon forest provides a relevant example: due to the interaction of deforestation, fire and climate change, it is predicted that the Amazon could undergo a widespread dieback in the future, with parts of the forest moving into a self-perpetuating cycle of more frequent fires and intense droughts, leading to a shift to savanna-like vegetation.