The phrase "to clear the land" means to remove or get rid of any obstacles or unwanted things from a piece of land so that it can be used for a specific purpose, such as construction or farming. Full definition
The burning of fossil fuels is the main CO2 contributor to the atmosphere, followed by clearing land for agriculture. (scientificamerican.com)
In environmental terms, meat production requires many more acres of cleared land and is more energy and water intensive to produce than the foods that constitute the average vegetarian diet. (womenshealthandfitness.com.au)
Many of the fires on the island are due to farmers clearing their land for agricultural reasons. (sciencedaily.com)