Namibia in focus: Potsdam University fights against desertification!

Namibia in focus: Potsdam University fights against desertification!

On June 12, 2025, a delegation from the University of Potsdam will begin an important trip to Namibia. Led by University President Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D., the delegation takes part in events that mark the completion of the “NamTip” project. This research project entitled “A Namibian Perspective on Desertification Tipping Points in the Face of Climate Change” aims to examine ecological thresholds in Namibian rangelands threatened by climate change and unsustainable land use. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) as part of the GlobalTip research initiative.

The project management is in the hands of Prof. Anja Linstädter. A central focus of the “NamTip” project is to examine the dramatic changes that can lead to desertification, as well as the impacts on biodiversity and local communities. In addition, the project aims to develop evidence-based strategies to curb degradation and restore affected areas. This is done through a combination of ecological and social research as well as scenario modeling.

Winter school and workshops

An important part of the trip is the NamTip Winter School, which will take place from June 16th to 21st at the Okatjikona Environmental Education Center. Honors and master's students from the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) take part in this educational initiative. The program is designed to provide knowledge on identifying, preventing and reversing tipping points in social-ecological systems.

Course content ranges from assessing rangeland degradation to climate change adaptation strategies to practical exercises such as drone mapping and policy analysis. A central goal of the Winter School is to strengthen the dialogue between Namibian and German students and researchers.

Closing events and stakeholder workshops

The final meeting of the project will take place from June 23rd to 26th. Several events are planned as part of this meeting, including a stakeholder workshop in Okakarara on June 23 that will address desertification tipping points on commercial farms. A workshop on community farming systems will be held in Ozangarangombe on June 24th. The final event will be celebrated on June 26 in Windhoek with a press event attended by government representatives, academics, members of local organizations and media.

During the press event, significant research results will be presented and fact sheets with recommendations will be handed out. In addition to Prof. Günther and Prof. Linstädter, the participants in the Potsdam delegation also include project manager Thomas Bringhenti, doctoral student Lisa-Maricia Schwarz and bachelor's student Carlo Renner. Other project partners include the universities of Bonn, Cologne and Tübingen as well as the ISOE, the UFZ, the UNAM, the NUST and the Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU).

The “NamTip” research project investigates the climatic, ecological and social factors that drive desertification in Namibia. The focus is on restoring the affected pasture landscapes in the Namibian savannah. The aim is to develop practical measures for sustainable pasture management to protect and restore savanna ecosystems worldwide. A transdisciplinary approach emphasizes ongoing stakeholder engagement and the social-ecological dynamics associated with desertification.

Because Namibia is the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, researchers face the challenge of dealing with the effects of population growth and climate change. Climate change projections suggest rising temperatures and increasing rainfall variability, underscoring the urgency of research efforts. The research region is located in the Greater Waterberg Landscape, which includes both community and privately managed farms and is exemplary of the causes of desertification in Namibia as well as in other dry areas of the world.

For further information about the project, visit University of Potsdam or that ISOE.