Dry forest clear–cutting

For a long time now, land on the west coast has been dedicated to agriculture and cattle breeding. Livestock introduction, followed by an increase in the number of cattle, has created a need for additional grazing grounds and has led to extended clear-cutting of dry forests and other vegetation types.

Individual farms have diminished considerably in size due to land ownership reform. This re-allocating of land has led to a significant increase in the number of stock breeders and livestock.

Considered simply as bush, dry forests were cleared or cut down. Today, they cover a limited area, in scattered isolated patches.

Despite improvements in fire-fighting means and public information, thousands of hectares are still destroyed by fire every year especially on the West coast and in the North of New Caledonia.

Dry forests are vulnerable to bushfires since they receive little rain and are enclosed in savannah and maquis areas which burn easily.