Vegetation
Vegetation refers to plant cover, i.e. the totality of all plants in a particular area. This includes agricultural crops and all ecosystem flora, such as forests, moors and plants in settlement areas.
During dry periods, the amount of water in the soil and in the atmosphere that plants require for optimum development falls. The plants suffer ‘drought stress’. Drought stress leads to a decline in vegetation health and restricts the growth and regeneration of plants and the entire ecosystem. In addition, the plants become more susceptible to pests and their mortality rises.
Further links and information:
TreeNet - The biological drought and growth indicator network - TreeNet