Desertification is affecting Omusati’s jobless youth

Namibians, as well as communities, generally need help to understand the importance of environmental protection, and to embrace sustainable solutions. 

This was highlighted by the Governor of the Omusati Region, Immanuel Shikongo, at a national event at Outapi last month to mark the 2025 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

Shikongo, a former councillor for Outapi, said unemployed youth at the town have resorted to selling forest resources, such as timber, to survive economically.

However, he noted, many of these resources are already under threat from desertification, land degradation and drought.

FEELING THE CHOP

Shikongo said when people chop down trees, they don’t plant new trees in the affected areas.

“We need to equip communities with knowledge as to which types of trees thrive in oshanas (flood plains),” he added. “We need to invest in urban agriculture and we need to plant fruit trees too.”

Further, it was important to plant drought-resistant trees which can thrive in Namibia’s arid and semi-arid areas.

Shikongo said people and communities generally need to embrace sustainable solutions such as investing in agro-forestry.

He underlined that educating people and communities on environmental protection is crucial, both environmentally and economically.

Natalia Nakashona, senior conservation scientist in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, gave an overview of desertification, land degradation and drought in Namibia at the event. 

Nakashona said since 1992, Namibia, the driest country in Sub-Saharan Africa, had come up with a number of projects and programmes aimed at addressing these issues. 

Initiatives include the Namibia Programme to Combat Desertification (from 1994-2005), and the Country Pilot Partnership for Integrated Sustainable Land Management (2007-2012).

Further, in 2015, Namibia released its Land Degradation Neutrality report which contains core measures.

“(T)he main aim is to address land degradation, loss of productive land and loss of biodiversity, so that we can reduce poverty and achieve environmental sustainability,” Nakashona said.

She listed some of the main drivers of desertification as sand mining and over-grazing.

Both the natural environment and agriculture are affected by desertification, land degradation and drought, Nakashona said. 

Chairperson of the Olushandja Horticulture Producers Associa-tion, Shetuuka Shetuuka, said Namibia and the Omusati region in particular are on the frontline of climate change.

“Our soils are eroding and our livelihoods as farmers are under threat. But let me be clear, desertification is not our destiny. Together we can overcome it,” he said.

Shetuuka said the causes of desertification include deforestation and overgrazing “and these lead to poor production, loss of biodiversity, poverty and excessive temperatures”.

He said the challenges they face as horticulture producers at Olushandja is the withering of crops, vanishing water sources and pastures turning into dust.

“Desertification threatens our food security, our economy and our children’s future. But, this is not just our problem, it is a global crisis.”

INITIATIVES

Shetuuka said at Olushandja they are making efforts to address desertification through innovation and unity.

These include using drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting, planting drought resistant crops and vegetables, training farmers in good agricultural practices and advocating for policies that support farmers.

Namibia is party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

Established in 1994, it is the sole legally binding agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.

The theme of this year’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is ‘Restore the Land, Unlock the Opportunities’.

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