Windhoek
The involvement of both regional and central government involvement is essential to reverse desertification in the northern Kunene Region, says Dr Axel Rothauge.
Dr Rothauge addressed the 19th rangeland Forum in Otjiwarongo last week saying unlike degradation, desertification cannot easily be reversed by adjusting land use and specifically rangeland management but requires drastic, long-term actions that usually exceed the capacity of individual and communal land-users to implement.
Desertification has rapidly been setting in in Northern Kunene region although unnoticeable to the naked public eye, field workers have observed and established during the Millennium Challenge Account-Namibia (MCA-N)’s intervention. Desertification is an extreme form of environmental degradation associated with loss of ecosystem services, e.g. severe loss of soil, reduced soil moisture regimes, lowered ground water table, aridification, implosion of grazing capacity, changes in rangeland structure that “cement” reduced productivity and biodiversity loss.
The project’s overall objective is to slow, stop and if possible reverse desertification in Namibia’s arid north-west (the northern Kunene region). Specific objectives are to raise awareness of the extent and impact of desertification in northern Kunene; emphasising the role of the Soil Conservation Act (1969) to assist local farmers with the problem; map and quantify areas of extreme soil erosion, called “ozondoto” locally; establish research plots at Otjisokotjangava (near Opuwo) and Sesfontein to quantify the characteristics of indigenous and drought-tolerant fodder shrubs (DTFS) thought useful for countering desertification and to determine best establishment and cultivation practices. It also aims to establish 3-4 sites in communal grazing areas demonstrating erosion control and rehabilitation techniques based on soil-binding properties of indigenous, drought-tolerant fodder shrubs, nursery to grow indigenous, drought-tolerant fodder shrubs established at Opuwo, and the ability of local farmers to counter desertification of their grazing areas is enhanced.
Dr Routhage says progress on the first objective has been good. A regional “desertification indaba” was held in Opuwo in April and a Ministry of Environment (MET)-supported “national workshop” is planned for early 2016. Nearby farming communities and communal conservancies were informed of the intervention and desertification danger with the assistance of Tjakazapi Mbunguha, the project’s field facilitator.
Two research plots of 20 DTFS species times six replications will be established. One plot will be harvested manually to determine shrub yield and nutritive value while the other will be browsed in a controlled manner by goats to determine feeding preference.
Three demonstration sites have been identified in the field near Opuwo and surrounding communities primed on the intervention. Field work will start with the transplanting of potted DTFS. About 3,000 DTFS of 15 species are currently being grown in 4.5 kg plastic pots under controlled conditions at the Forestry Research Centre, Okahandja, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agricutlure, Water and Forestry (MAWF)’s Directorate of Forestry.
Herta Kolberg, a Namibian seed specialist is collecting seed and cuttings in the wild of about 40 indigenous grass, shrub, bush and tree species with soil-binding and fodder production potential. Pots will be transported to Opuwo when ready for transplanting in the 2015/16 rainy season at the earliest. Once best establishment practices have been determined, a local entrepreneur/community will be trained to take over the relocated nursery in Opuwo.
Capacitating local farmers will commence once demonstration plots have been established. The cultivation of indigenous DTFS is progressing much better than anticipated. The biggest danger is the forecast drought during the 2015/156rainy season, which can reduce transplanting success. Another challenge is that the need to inform and train local communities was underestimated (only six training/awareness raising opportunities budgeted) and too few resources were allocated to this activity. The need for training and information transfer is huge. The EU and FNB are thanked for supporting this intervention, Dr Routhage concluded.