Potential natural vegetation

Study of past ecosystems allowed to demonstrate, for instance, that numerous contemporary biotopes (like the "wild" Slovenian forests for instance), supposedly largely untouched, were in fact very remote from their natural vegetation.^{[citation needed]}

In Japan, Akira Miyawaki demonstrated after study that, on the one hand, long supposed "native species" had in fact been introduced on account of human intervention since over 1000 years (especially, coniferous being privileged over deciduous). On the other hand, that reforestation with "original" species gives good and often spectacular results.^{[citation needed]}

Maps of potential natural vegetation^[1] are used worldwide for improved ecosystem comprehension and management.

However the concept is subject to debate,^[2][3] on similar grounds as for the climax theory. Critics argue that ecosystems are not static but ever dynamic: as bioclimatic conditions constantly evolve, it is illusory to define either a final or a primary stage of vegetation.