The term 'devegetated' describes an area or land that has had its natural vegetation removed or destroyed, rendering it barren or sparsely covered. This can occur through various means, including deforestation, intensive agriculture, urbanization, natural disasters (like wildfires), or human-induced activities. The resulting landscape lacks the typical plant life associated with its environment and may be prone to soil erosion, habitat loss, and altered ecological processes. The severity of devegetation can range from minor thinning of plant cover to complete removal of vegetation, leaving the area exposed.
Devegetated meaning with examples
- The intense logging operations had almost completely devegetated the once lush hillside, leaving behind a stark and desolate landscape. The lack of trees made the soil highly susceptible to erosion and landslides during the heavy rains.
- After the massive wildfire swept through the national park, vast stretches of forest were left devegetated, exposing the underlying rocks and soil to the harsh sun. It would take many years for natural regrowth to occur in this damaged ecosystem.
- The relentless expansion of farmland led to large tracts of land being devegetated to make way for crops. This change, whilst feeding society, depleted wildlife populations and damaged fragile ecosystems.
- Construction of the new shopping mall involved completely devegetating the area, removing all trees, shrubs, and grasses to prepare the site. The environmental impact was a major concern.
- The prolonged drought caused widespread vegetation die-off, effectively devegetating large sections of the savanna. This resulted in significant hardship for the native wildlife and increased the risk of wildfires.