ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

Local monitoring programs focus on the regular and continued observation and assessment of conditions of the four
indicators over time by the resource users. Communities themselves identify information needs, and in close
cooperation with technical advisors, develop relevant indicators for rangeland conditions for monitoring purposes. A
field guide developed in Namibia on how to conduct regular monitoring, with color photos, graphics, color coded
information sheets, charts and guidelines will be used by farmers/pastoralists of Bobirwa sub district and Kgalagadi
district to assess rangeland conditions.
2.2.1 The basis of the technology’s success
The LLM approach is most likely to be successful in Botswana because the open access rangeland conditions are
similar to those of Namibia where the tool was developed.
2.2.2 How is it implemented?
Implementation of the LLM tool will be effected under the auspices of FIRM. Pastoralists, government departments
and VDCs are important players for the successful implementation of the LLM tool in the target districts. The LLM
tool will be tested initially at Tshane and Maubelo villages of Kgalagadi district, and at Mathathane village of
Bobirwa sub district, before spreading out to other villages of the two target districts.
2.2.3 Up-scaling the technology
The LLM tool can be applied to other countries with similar rangeland conditions to those of Botswana and
Namibia. Agricultural extension service (Animal Production) personnel will be of great assistance in the up-scaling
phase.
2.2.4 Contribution to the overall DMP project goal and objectives
The application of LLM tool by the communities will contribute to the specific objective of developing and
implementing strategies for conservation, restoration and sustainable use of dryland biodiversity (Output 2) through
capacity building.
2.2.5 Projected potential impact
The projected potential impact of this tool is to manage the environment and the natural resources in a sustainable
manner by putting at least 50,000 ha of rangeland under stable ecosystem use.
C. Namibia
1. The context
Namibia is the most arid country in sub-Saharan Africa with naturally low agricultural productivity. Rainfall is low
and highly variable with the occurrence of drought as a natural phenomenon. Coping with dry periods is therefore a
way of life for the almost 80% of the population that are largely dependent on this very vulnerable natural resource
base. The impact of drought, rangeland degradation, biodiversity loss, land degradation and reduced agro-pastoral
productivity are common phenomena in rural farming communities in Namibia.
The eastern communal lands (DMP study area in Namibia) receive between 380 and 480 mm of summer rain
annually. The block of communal land that forms the eastern communal areas covers about 76,800 square
kilometers, with its eastern border the international boundary with Botswana. The area has only 2.6% of Namibia’s
population, 9.3% of its area and 12% of its cattle. All land in the region is communal by the terms of the Communal
Land Reform Act of 2002, and as a result formally owned by government. Communal Land Boards are being
established in the region to exercise control over the land. Freehold ownership of communal land is not possible.
Okamatapati and Rietfontein have large blocks of surveyed and fenced farms. The sizes of farms in both blocks
ranges between 4000 and 6000 ha. Together, both blocks cover 8,800 sq km or 17% of the area.
Most of the study area is covered by relatively homogeneous sands of the Kalahari Basin, with only some erosion
plains of the Central Plateau in the far western portions. The far southeastern corner (Rietfontein area) has some sub
out cropping rocks. Most soils belong to the arenosols (deep sands) of the Kalahari Basin. These are mostly with
poor horizon development due to the arid environment. It is only in the drainage lines (omiramba) and in the areas
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