[sclim]

fire. before the modern convenient devices that use gas and electricity, people collect fire woods. this in a way remove the potential energy that accumulated in the forest. in a way
prevented huge fire frequency, without this natural activities fire maanger needs to managed by doing control burning to reduce the potential energy build up in the forest.

water. man climb up and water flow low.
also managed water by building lakes, pond and waterways. there is a capacity limit to
how much one can build. but if one build buildings, cover up the surface to prevent the water from sinking into below ground level water channel then water will flow along ground level.
when sudden increased in rain fall beyond the design capacity of the water way, flood happens.

lakes is good as it stores clean water during rain season and release water during dry months. always wonders about the valley of jars, did the rulers then used these to capture the rain water falling during rainy seasons to reduce water flowing into the lower ground?
each extra building works should always be look at it's implications of causing water to flow at ground level. look at it in a basin view. how water can the water infra handle in that basin. changes that upset the balance.