Namibia is the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa with a mean annual rainfall of 270 mm
that shows marked regional variations. Due to the environmental factors of low and
unpredictable rainfall, high evapotranspiration rates, and partly poor soil fertility, the land in
most areas of Namibia is suitable only for natural grassland production. Thus, pastoral
livestock production is the predominant agricultural system in Namibia, while a mixed
system with mainly millet cropping, is found in the north. Approximately 44% of the total
land continues to be held under freehold title, commonly referred to as the commercial
farming sector (Werner, 2003), which is dominated by white landowners (RoN, 1991), in
(Werner, 2003). The non-freehold areas, referred to today as the communal areas,
comprise about 41% of the total land area. The remaining 15% are state land (Sweet &
Burke, 2000). The communal sector operates subsistence oriented to a large extent, and
directly supports 95% of the nation’s farming population (Kruger & Woehl, 1996). Namibia
shows a high plant biodiversity (Ashley, 1996; Barnard & Namibian National Biodiversity
Task Force, 1998; Maggs et al., 1998), which seems to be endangered by land use, and
could eventually result in an irreversible degradation of landscapes.