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Story: Fire and agriculture

Impact of burning and grazing

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Impact of burning and grazing

In the semi-arid and high-country regions of Central Otago, tussocks recover slowly after burning. The growing season is restricted by cold temperatures in winter and high evaporation rates in summer. Grazing after burning compounds the problem. The impact on the vegetation is apparent on the right side of this fence, compared with the ungrazed tussock on the left.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10047495

by Neville Peat

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How to cite this page

Robert Peden, Fire and agriculture – Burning and erosion, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/15204/impact-of-burning-and-grazing (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Robert Peden, published 1 March 2009.