Understanding Rangeland Desertification at the Village Level: A Comparative Study with a Social-Ecological Systems Perspective in Namibia
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Date
2025
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Springer
Abstract
Desertification poses significant environmental and socio-economic threats to pastoral systems within the drylands of
sub-Saharan Africa. However, there remains a paucity of interdisciplinary studies delving into the anthropogenic drivers
of desertification at the local level of social-ecological systems, resulting in an inadequate understanding of its human-
induced causes. This research aims to bridge this gap by presenting three case studies from Namibia’s eastern communal
areas. Through an integrated approach drawing from rangeland ecology and anthropology, we offer a comparative analysis
revealing nuanced differences among individual pastoral settlements, shaped by their distinct social contexts. Our findings
elucidate the social determinants influencing varying degrees of desertification at the village level, highlighting local fac-
tors that mitigate the adverse impacts of grazing pressure and aridity on perennial grass populations. Notably, the study
identifies the role of social institutions in managing critical environmental conditions and physical infrastructures, such
as extensive pastures and cattle posts, which contribute to maintaining grassland resilience. Despite observable signs of
desertification, the presence of perennial grasses both aboveground and in the soil seed bank across all settlements suggests
that a tipping point has not yet been reached, emphasizing the window of opportunity for intervention. The discussion
extends to the potential transferability of these findings to other Namibian communities within the existing socio-ecolog-
ical framework, aiming to avert impending tipping points. Ultimately, the study challenges the notion of desertification
in pastoral social-ecological systems as solely a tragedy of the commons, emphasizing the imperative of developing and
implementing suitable social institutions within colonial and post-colonial contexts.
Description
Keywords
OvaHerero pastoralists · Communal rangelands · Desertification · Interdisciplinary approach · Namibia
Citation
Schwieger, D. A. M., Munyebvu-Chambara, F., Hamunyela, N., Tielbörger, K., Nesongano, W. C., Bilton, M. C., ... & Linstädter, A. (2025). Understanding Rangeland Desertification at the Village Level: A Comparative Study with a Social-Ecological Systems Perspective in Namibia. Human Ecology, 53(1), 53-72.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-025-00574-0