Climate change threatens Kavango livelihoods

Natural resources in Kavango East and West regions are at threat of being depleted through unsustainable use, bad practices and climate change. Deforestation and other forms of land degradation are the biggest environmental threats in the region. Farmers practice slash and burn tactics, which limit the soils ability to rehabilitate, and leads to reduced productivity of both natural products and of agriculture. This is the view of a panel of scientists who formed part of a panel discussion on ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change in Rundu at the weekend. The discussions form part of the commemoration of the World Day to Combat Desertification, which takes place tomorrow. The Kavango East and West regions are among the most populated areas in Namibia, with about 11% of the country&rsquo;s population living there. The two regions have an abundance natural resources, including forests, open shrub areas and the Okavango River. The people depend largely on small-scale farming, such as crop production and livestock, fishing, forest products, community-based tourism and wildlife, for their livelihoods. Technical project officer in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Elly Mutota, said that land degradation in the Kavango regions is mainly caused by unsustainable land practices such as shifting cultivation, poor soil, overgrazing, deforestation and over-harvesting of products. According to her, climate change is a threat because it can change biological systems, and also cause the loss of ecosystem services. &ldquo;It is unpredictable and difficult to determine from a global perspective what effects climate change will have on ecosystems locally.&rdquo; Mutota said people rely on ecosystem services and climate change is threatening this. &ldquo;People need to adapt to secure their livelihoods, as per the laws of nature. Adaptation depends on our understanding and how we use and manage our natural resources.&rdquo; Scientist Richard Shikongo said the topic of climate change is very sensitive and close to the heart, as it deals with the livelihoods of people and how it is supported by nature. &ldquo;It touches on the land we live on and what exists in nature, and how it should be sustained for us to continue to benefit from it.&rdquo; According to Shikongo there are definite signs of land degradation is in Kavango. He added that practices such as farming, construction and harvesting of sand in the river are driving this. &ldquo;Land is being degraded by what we are doing. We look at all the benefits we can get, but not at what we are doing to nature. We put too much pressure on land. The cutting down of threes and burning of forests, these are all things that are happening in Kavango.&rdquo; Another scientist, Wycliffe Nambassa, said that there are serious indicators of climate change in Kavango. He referred to 2009 when some of the worst floods were experienced in Kavango, and said that in 2010/11 floods had again hit the region. &ldquo;Something must have happened. Something is incomplete and not functioning properly in the ecosystem. Climate change is a reality.&rdquo; In the Kavango regions, climate change has been closely observed by projects such as Biodiversity and Climate Change, Southern Africa Regional Environment Program, The Future Okavango and Southern Africa Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Use. There have been some noticeable changes observed, including frequent droughts and variable dry periods. These and other predicted changes have profound impacts on the lives of many people, who depend directly on biodiversity and the ecosystem.

Climate change threatens Kavango livelihoods

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-05

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Climate change threatens Kavango livelihoods

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-05

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