What does revegetation mean?
Revegetation is the restoration of plant life to an area where vegetation has been removed, damaged, or severely reduced. It may involve planting native grasses, shrubs, or trees, as well as protecting the soil, controlling erosion, and allowing natural regeneration to occur. The term is especially common in discussions of habitat restoration, post-fire recovery, mining and construction sites, degraded farmland, and ecological rehabilitation. Revegetation is broader than reforestation because its goal is to restore plant cover generally, not necessarily to recreate a former forest. Successful revegetation also depends on more than putting plants in the ground: factors such as soil condition, water availability, invasive species, and the choice of locally appropriate species all affect whether the restored vegetation develops into a healthy, resilient ecosystem. The word is primarily technical rather than conversational.
nounThe process of restoring plant growth to an area, especially one whose vegetation has been damaged or removed. It may involve planting native species, allowing land to recover naturally, or using other ecological restoration methods.
- The restoration or establishment of vegetation in an area where plant cover has been removed, degraded, or damaged.
"Careful soil management and native planting are central to the revegetation of the recovering hillside."
"The council began revegetation of the former quarry with grasses and native shrubs."
"Revegetation after the wildfire was faster on slopes where the soil remained largely intact."
Rare in ordinary use; singular is normally preferred when referring to the general process or an instance of restoration.
"The two revegetations were intended to restore habitat along the river corridor."
Revegetation can turn a construction site or a fire-scarred slope into living habitat, one carefully chosen plant at a time.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does revegetation come from?
Revegetation was formed in English by combining re-, meaning “again,” with vegetation, the collective term for plant life. Vegetation ultimately comes through Latin vegetare, “to grow plants” or “to grow,” a verb associated with the Latin root vegetus, meaning “growing” or “vigorous.” The prefixed form refers specifically to bringing vegetation back after it has been lost or reduced.
Related word forms
How revegetation is actually used
Most common in ecology, environmental science, forestry, land management, and restoration contexts. In general use, it can sound technical, while everyday speakers may more often say replanting or habitat restoration.
Easily confused with revegetation
Revegetation restores a wider range of plant cover, whereas reforestation specifically concerns establishing trees on land where a forest previously existed.