Clearing of vegetation
Management Activity
Vegetation clearing can be carried out through a variety of methods, including the use of chemicals, fire or machinery. The clearing of vegetation impacts ecological (interactions between organisms and between organisms and their physical environment) and biophysical processes, subsequently disrupting ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration and organic matter decay.
The direct impacts of vegetation clearing include:
- Loss of deep-rooted perennial trees and shrubs
- Reduced ground cover
- Reduced canopy cover
- Increased invasion of environmental weeds
- Increased soil compaction
- Increased habitat fragmentation
- Increased greenhouse gas emissions
- Reduced riparian vegetation
Last updated 7 September 2010
