Girdling would be destructive to plants. By removing the bark in a ring around the trunk or branch, it severs the connection between the roots and leaves. The bark contains the phloem tissue which transports food from the leaves to the rest of the plant. Without this connection, the roots are cut off from their food source and will not be able to survive for long. The leaves above the girdle may remain alive temporarily as they still have access to water and minerals through the xylem vessels, but over time will also die off without receiving nutrients. Girdling effectively kills the portion of the plant above and below the cut, making it a destructive process.