An investigation into the causes and impacts of land degradation, and possible management strategies and mitigation measures in the Oshana region, Northern Namibia
Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: ENGLISH SUMMARY : Land degradation is a complex phenomenon, and its relation to various impacts has attracted research from various disciplines. Many researchers concluded that the deterioration of the environment is mainly caused by human activities. Anthropogenic activities, which can lead to land degradation, are overgrazing, rapid increase in number of livestock, sand mining, climate change, deforestation, and population pressure. Many parts of Namibia are affected by land degradation, hence the purpose of this study. This study investigated the causes and impacts of land degradation in the Oshana region of Namibia. The research objectives of this study include an exploration of existing national legislation and policies directly or indirectly addressing land degradation. The research design adopted is a case study, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, and primary and secondary data. The study population comprised residents from the Oshana region, and a small subset of employees of the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Ministry of Agricultural Water and Forestry and the Ministry of Land Reform. Hundred questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents (both residents and officials) and out of these, 86 questionnaires were returned. The questionnaires to residents were distributed during the annual Ongwediva trade fair, using a random sampling method. The questionnaires distributed to officials used purposive sampling, focussing on relevant Ministries that deal with land degradation. The questionnaire comprised both closed and open-ended questions. Closed questions were analysed with Excel, and open-ended questions by thematically categorising similar concept. The literature review explored the extent of the problem, and the causes and impacts of land degradation. A review of Namibian policies identified a problem with coordination of legislation between departments, a lack of data for planning, and a lack of monitoring. The case study shows that the bigger portion of the Oshana region is communal land, and communal land rights and leaseholds are the most common land ownership models in the Oshana region. According to the respondents the major causes of land degradation in the region are climate change, overgrazing, population pressures, urbanisation and poor soil and low rainfall. These factors contribute a lot to the loss of fauna and flora, and desertification. The study also highlights sandmining as a more recent challenge in the region, which up to now has been uncontrolled. Although most respondents were aware of land degradation, they also felt that the local community is not empowered to deal with land degradation problems, nor does the community get together to address them. Only about 40% of the respondent felt that community members were involved in decision-making. They identified that land degradation policies require more public input in order to achieve land degradation goals. The respondents also stated that existing policies, laws, regulations, plans and programmes were not fully implemented, and felt the laws also needed changing to adapt to environmental conditions and to the specific context in Oshana. The respondents felt communal ownership of land should be encouraged, but that there should be a fairer system of land allocation, so that some people do not control large tracts of land, while others have very little land. They suggested solutions to the problem of land degradation, such as awareness campaigns, the enforcement of grazing management plans, policies about-revegetation of areas and the prevention of dual grazing (when people who controlled and fenced ‘private’ land, still let their cattle graze on the commonage). They also felt that limits should be placed on the number of livestock in each village, as currently there is no penalty for over stocking. Lastly, the study recommends that land degradation management strategies and mitigation measures be mainstreamed into all policies, which should be regularly amended every decade, as laws get outdated. New laws, policies and plans should combine both scientific and local knowledge, with more public participation. Better implementation of existing policies, laws, regulations and strategies is also needed, including better coordination between departments. Poverty and diversifying sustainable livelihoods should be addresses, as poverty is one of the reasons people overuse local resources.
Author: Natalia Hamunyela
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3004045731