过度放牧，当一片植物遭受密集的畜牧行为过长或没有足够的恢复期，便会发生所谓的过度放牧。这情形可能是因为牲畜缺乏技术性的管理或野生动物的过度繁殖。过度放牧会降低土地的可用性、生产力和生物多样性，同时也会造成土地的沙漠化和侵蚀。过度放牧也被视为杂草和外来植物散播的原因。

过度放牧是一个公地悲剧典型的例子。动物、草和牲畜的管理影响动植物的健康与生产力，因此它是草原畜牧稳定生产的基本条件。

Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, game reserves, or nature reserves. It can also be cause by immobile, travel restricted populations of native or non-native wild animals.