Threats to xeromorphic shrubland include overgrazing and over harvesting of wood, the practising of agriculture on poor soils inducing soil erosion, loss of soil moisture, reduced drainage, the presence of hard layers, excessive salts or other toxic compounds and a reduction in species diversity.
Shrubs generally greater than 0.5 m tall with individuals or clumps not touching to overlapping generally forming 25% canopy cover -- tree cover generally 25%. Shrub cover (rarely) may be less than 25% in cases when the cover of each of the other life-forms present; i.e. tree, dwarf-shrub, herb, nonvascular, is less than 25% and shrub cover exceeds the cover of the other life- forms.