overgrazing

noun

Pronunciation: ˌoʊvərˈɡreɪzɪŋ

Definition

The process of allowing livestock to eat vegetation in a specific area to the point where the plant cover is destroyed and the soil becomes vulnerable to erosion.

Examples

• The local government implemented new rotation schedules to prevent the severe overgrazing of the communal lands.

• Persistent overgrazing by cattle has significantly reduced the biodiversity of the native prairie grasses.

• Environmentalists argue that overgrazing is the primary driver of desertification in this arid region.

Synonyms of overgrazing

Words with a similar meaning to overgrazing:

• depletion
• degradation
• exhaustion
• desertification

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