People often focus only on the destructive aspects of a Natural Disaster. Indeed the haunting images in the wake of a truly violent disaster can be overwhelming. Once seen, few forget the acres of charred tree corpses smoldering after an intense wildfire, or the long path of destruction trailing a mighty tornado.
It is important, however, to note that disasters also serve as a source of renewal. By destroying old trees in a forest, disasters free up essential resources for young plants. Sunlight once blocked by a dense canopy of leaves is free to flood the earth with energy and warmth. Nutrients once reserved for the established tree elders are plentiful and feed many infant plants.
There are many herbs, weeds, flowers, shrubs and trees that can only grow in the environmental conditions left by a disaster. The survival of these plants and the animals that consume them are therefore reliant on the brief window of opportunity that each disaster brings. So for many organisms, natural disasters are essential for survival.