Bush encroachment or bush thickening can be remedied through brush packing. Encroachment takes place when the growth of grass and leafy plants is threatened by an increase in woody shrubs and trees in one’s pastures, and is something that small farmers need to be aware of, and take steps to counteract if they are to maintain the grazing capacity of their land. Often the invader bushes are not palatable to livestock or game.
These are symptoms of land degradation, where the natural balance of vegetation has been disturbed. There are many reasons for this happening, including veld mismanagement, overstocking and climate change.
Click here to read about brush packing as a remedy for bush encroachment on page 28 of the September edition of the SA Smallholder Digital Magazine.
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Main image: Brush packing at Shamwari.