Future proofing - the role of fire and the process of Serotiny.

Fires destroy and fires also create. And Sometimes a heat experience is what is required in order grow. We have all had our share  of “Heat experiences” .. and know that something was born…as a result of it.

All that is great knowledge. I am going through   a heat experience right now and questioning it…in real time exasperation!!

Why is a heat experience necessary? Why don’t we learn what needs to be learned without all the fire burning…  why must it be so hard…

Why must we wait for that time / moment to go through the heat in order to grow…there is so much damage that happens in the immediate surrounding …is it worth it?? Can’t there be another way…

When I can’t figure something out I generally go to nature to look for some answers.. It an old childhood habit.

I grew up with grandma and a garden. And a space to ask lots of questions. No question was irrelevant or silly. We had lots of fruit trees which I watered everyday at 5am before going to school.  My grandma would tell me to be awake when I water ..Because “not all trees and plants need the same amount of water you must pay attention to the plant you are watering”.

Fair point.. I stayed awake.. This was an important early lesson in empathy from nature.

Anyway coming back to fires and growth experience.

As I was reading about fires…I came across forest fires.

I started reading about forest fires and how in ancient cultures, people pray for forest fires to happen. ..interesting !! I stumbled upon how certain pinecone forests..which have forest fires on regular basis grow to become large forests and how they spread far and wide…

This sounded almost counter-intuitive. .with so many forest fires shouldn’t the growth reduce?? How are they able to scale?

For some reason the world scale made me think of capitalism and fast growing businesses. Working as leadership design consultant, I realize,  this is also a question which a lot of organization are asking …

How can we grow ..how can we scale.. How can we build capacity?. How can we future proof in a VUCA (volatile Uncertain Complex Ambiguous)  environment etc.

The very short answer from nature is “Serotiny”

The Parallels are interesting..to say the least.

I started researching a Particular type of pinecone called polelodge cones ..they are tall thick and dense forests….that you see in many beautiful postcards.

These types, need lots of sunlight to grow.. so as baby plants they tend to grow quicker and taller and compete with their neighbors.. all clamoring for the precious sunlight…

Understandable.

The competing environment..gives rise to the forest growing very quickly and very soon a thick canopy of trees is formed. The trees now mature to give annual pinecones which have seeds for future trees….

So far everything is good.

But.. now there is also a problem…the problem of future readiness.

Again.. Classic fast growing organizations.

In a competing environment ..in an attempt to outgrow each other and rise up quickly.. the trees have now created an umbrella which stop sunlight from penetrating down to the forest floor.

And, since these type of trees only grow in sunlight….the very condition that got them to grow, now will not allow the next generation to grow.

That which got you here.. will keep you here..

The seeds when they mature and  fall on the ground..fall onto a shady ground

pun not intended..

Some stronger ones attempt at growing but at best are shrubs.. a lot  of them die.. in the shade of their towering predecessors.

This poses a serious problem now for the sustainability and future of the polelodge  cones trees.

Due to the thick tight growth, forest fires are inevitable.. and when the burn down .. second in line is not ready.. because they have in a way sealed off their own future.

 This is no longer a technical problem ..It is now an adaptive challenge.

So what does nature do to problem solve... It comes up with a design thinking solution…

The cone trees create another set of seed cones called “Serotinous Cones”.  These are different from the regular cones which are open and hence spontaneously release the seeds which are eventually wasted..

Serotinous cones on the other hand are like a shut casing and need an “Environmental Trigger” to release their seeds..  They are produced in thousands and are like water proof time capsules sealed with a resinous pitch. Many are able to stay on the tree undamaged for years…and even when they do fall on the grown they don’t break open..  Like lie in waiting.

When the forest fires break and the temperatures get high enough….. the cones pop open and release the seeds.. which are then carried by the hot air to different locations with open sunlight ground and this is where they germinate and new trees are born. 

These Serotinous seeds actually use the fire to open up and travel to where they need to go..to find a space where they can  grow…independently. Theses seeds..create the forest…that survives and thrives.

Mystery of fire as a growth propeller solved.

A few thoughts

For us an individuals’ and leaders leading organizations and are inherently interested in sustainable growth…

We have the normal pinecone seeds and we also have the Serotinous seeds.. which need the heat experience by design. Can we identify these two early on??

We don’t  have to wait for forest fires.. sometimes environment needs  to be created.. fires have to be triggered.. and not just think of the immediate “damage” but really think long term…you have no idea which seeds are really waiting for the heat.

Reflect on what and how can we learn from Serotinous seeds which use the heat to open and travel and grow…

How we build capacity for the future, will depend on need to build and harness Serotinous seeds.. and our millennials .

 Note to self: Whenever you go through a heat experience remember you are also a Serotinous seed. 
Use the heat to open  - to fly - to sprout.