Living on the Land. Change in Forest Cover in North-Central Namibia 1943-1996

Preface:

The objective of the present study was to analyse the change in forest cover in the Owambo area of north-central Namibia, focusing especially on the domestic use of wood in constructions on farms. Aerial photographs from 1996, 1992, 1970 and 1943, and satellite images from 1996, 1992 and 1981, amplified by ground truth data gathered in 1996, were used to monitor and analyse expansion of the settled area and its effects on forest cover in the Ondobe and Eenhana constituencies of the Ohangwena Region.

The results indicate that deforestation was caused almost entirely by clearing of land for permanent agriculture. The clay-rich sandy soils on the lower part of uplands were occupied first; whereas the slightly more elevated, but less fertile, sandy sites have been occupied later. It was estimated that a population increase of one person led to about 1 ha of deforestation. […]