Formerly forested lands severely impacted by intensive and/or repeated disturbance (such as mining, repeated fires or overgrazing) with consequently inhibited or delayed forest regrowth. These include barrens areas, Imperata grasslands, brushlands, and scrublands.
Chokkalingam, U. and Wil de Jong, 2001

Former forest land severely damaged by the excessive harvesting of wood and/or non-wood forest products, poor management, repeated fire, grazing or other disturbances or land-uses that damage soil and vegetation to a degree that inhibits or severely delays the re-establishment of forest after abandonment.
ITTO, 2002