Burning the grassland and the leaves on the lower extremities of trees causes elephants to push trees over in order to reach edible leaves. The tree is not necessarily killed when it is pushed over, but a subsequent fire does usually kill the tree. The destruction of trees by fires is then often blamed on elephants. Fires are now part of a vicious cycle, where the declines and absence of animals which should be cropping the grassland, renders the grassland under-utilised and fire prone. Fires are then often set for convenient hunting, in the process destroying fodder and trees,- causing further degradation of habitats and in turn, wildlife declines.
Fires also serve to concentrate animals, causing further habitat degradation of unburned areas.
Termination of plant re-growth. Reduced biomass and diversity in plant populations. Transformation of woodland to scrubland. Reduced biomass and bio-diversity of wildlife. Disruption of natural migration patterns.