Overgrazing - GCSE Geography Definition

Overgrazing is when animals, like cattle, eat too much grass in a particular area, causing damage to the land. When the grass is eaten faster than it can grow back, the soil is left bare of vegetation, so there is nothing left to bind the soil together. This means that the soil can be easily washed away by rain or blown away by wind. This makes it hard for plants to grow again, leading to problems like soil erosion and loss of nutrients. The animals also trample the land, leading to increased soil erosion. Overgrazing can harm the environment, lead to desertification, and make it difficult for farmers to raise healthy animals on the land.