Browsage

/ˈbraʊzɪdʒ/ noun

Definition

The tender shoots, leaves, and twigs of trees and shrubs that are eaten by grazing animals such as deer or goats.

Etymology

From 'browse' (from Old French 'brout', tender shoots) plus '-age' (a suffix forming nouns from verbs); referring to the material that is browsed rather than the action itself.

Kelly Says

In forestry and land management, 'browsage' is the invisible competitor—it refers to all the leaves and shoots that deer and goats eat, and in regions without natural predators, heavy browsage can completely reshape entire forests, preventing young trees from ever growing tall.

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