The Namib is expanding - and it's a problem
Massive desertification threatens the Richtersveld
Among travellers, scientists, and Africa enthusiasts, Namibia is best known for the Namib - the world’s oldest desert, estimated to be between 55 and 80 million years old.A geographical marvel, a vital habitat, and a popular tourist destination, the desert is now showing a worrying trend: it continues to expand, posing a serious threat to the South African Richtersveld, a globally important biodiversity hotspot home to numerous endemic plant species.
This finding comes from a study led by an international research team from the University of Hamburg, published in the Journal of Arid Environments. The study observed significant declines in vegetation and biodiversity across much of the Richtersveld. Professor Norbert Jürgens, a biologist emeritus at the University of Hamburg, explained that the team analysed plant species composition and abundance in monitoring plots and evaluated satellite imagery over time. Their research revealed a gradual impoverishment of the region’s plant life, which began decades ago and continues even after the extreme drought from 2012 to 2022 ended.
According to the study, species loss follows a predictable pattern. Densely vegetated pastures first lose ecologically critical plants, particularly long-lived, water-storing dwarf shrubs that trap sand and dust. These are replaced by sparse, salt-tolerant species that cannot protect the soil effectively. As a result, fertile soil is blown away by the wind, leaving barren sandy areas with minimal vegetation. The Richtersveld, home to around 1 000 endemic plants, faces a severe risk of species loss.
Climate change and human impact
Climate change is accelerating the problem. “Models already predicted longer, harsher droughts in southern Africa, but the scale of wind-driven sand and dust transport affecting ecosystems was unexpected,” Jürgens told Network Media Hub. In the Richtersveld, sand burial has affected more than 400 km², while the loss of fertile silt has impacted roughly 260 km². These processes threaten the Succulent Karoo, leading to desertification and sparse desert grasses, with gradual degradation visible across much of the approximately 10 000 km² region.
Human activity also plays a role. Open-pit diamond mining mobilises large amounts of sand, which damages vegetation and accelerates desertification. Overgrazing by goats, sheep, and cattle further contributes to ecosystem decline.
Implications for Namibia
While the Richtersveld is under immediate threat, Namibia’s ecosystems are not immune. The Succulent Karoo in the southwest, an area of high botanical diversity, has been less impacted by mining and land use. However, rising temperatures and wind-borne sand and dust from the south are increasingly affecting southwest Namibia. Jürgens warns that if the Orange River returns to its natural intermittent flow, degradation could worsen. Recent rainfall may offer temporary relief, but long-term measures are needed.
To slow desertification, the study recommends stricter mining regulations, controlled grazing, and the protection of vulnerable regions. Renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind farms, must also be carefully managed to avoid further environmental stress. Jürgens emphasised the need for protected areas, sand-trapping structures, and cross-border cooperation to minimise human and climate-related pressures on these ecosystems.
“In the coming decades, Namibia cannot prevent global temperature increases, which pose a creeping threat to succulents,” he said. “It is therefore crucial to reduce other stresses on southwest ecosystems through feasible conservation measures.”