Framework / Assessment New Hampshire Forest Resources Plan Revision -- Assessment 2010 Summary Fragmentation is the breaking up of a landscape into smaller pieces by natural processes (e.g., fire, plant community variation) or by artificial processes (e.g., logging, dam construction) or features (e.g., roads). Fragmentation can cause a wide range of ecological harms, from species endangerment and local extinction to disruption of natural processes (e.g., natural flooding).