Future of pastures: Experts discuss solutions to combat desertification!

Future of pastures: Experts discuss solutions to combat desertification!

On July 8, 2025, the day started with a one-hour drive to the Ozangarangombe Community Village, where over 80 participants gathered. Those present included farmers, members of nature conservation associations and representatives of the land authority. Village heads and representatives from three universities were also there. Prof. Anja Linstädter from the University of Potsdam In her lecture, she presented the NamTip project, which deals with the ecological tipping points in Namibia.

The project aims to develop a better understanding of desertification in drylands. Dr. Clara Nesongano from the UNAM presented indicators for determining the condition of pastures. The participating experts emphasized the urgency, as the overuse of natural resources and climate change are putting ecosystems under significant pressure.

Important topics and presentations

A central point of discussion was the importance of bush thinning for healthy pastures, which Dr. Mark Bilton spoke. He showed plant samples that illustrated the need for these measures. Dr. Diego Menestrey Schwieber presented a map of the community area and explained that livestock numbers in all villages exceed the sustainable carrying capacity of a maximum of 18 cattle per hectare.

After the lunch break, learners from the EduVentures program presented their scientific results. Nali Moyo, a doctoral student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), presented various strategies for restoring degraded pastures. She mentioned methods such as fallowing and reseeding to reduce the burden of current management.

Projects and future measures

Dr. Menestrey Schwieber proposed building a fence around the community area in order to increase pasture areas and introduce rotational grazing. The discussion ended with words of thanks from a member of the Okakarara nature conservation organization, who acknowledged the committed exchange and cooperation between the various stakeholders.

The research of the NamTip project, led by a consortium of international partners, examines the complex interactions between ecological and social tipping points. These tipping points are irreversible changes caused by climate change and unsustainable rangeland use. Particularly in Namibia, where society is heavily dependent on pastureland, strengthening the resilience of savannahs and restoring degraded ecosystems is of great importance.

Workshops on sustainable management and communal land use systems of the OvaHerero are planned for future work. The development of information materials on pasture management and the use of drone technology to manage pastureland are also part of the project. This is not only intended to counteract desertification, but also to protect biological diversity and the food source for wild animals and livestock in the region idw online reported.