Namibian rangelands cover over 69.5 million hectares, representing about 85% of Namibia’s land surface. In addition to sustaining herbivores, these rangelands play a crucial role in regulating water cycling, recharge rates, carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity.
Due to Namibia’s aridity and limited arable soils, the potential for crop production and horticulture is highly restricted. As a result, the main land uses are extensive livestock, game production, and conservation. The productivity of rangelands fluctuates greatly over time and space due to erratic rainfall patterns and varying rangeland health. This variability in forage production and quality presents significant management challenges. Poor decisions can lead to losses in animal production or assets, missed marketing opportunities, and rangeland degradation, which ultimately reduces the future productivity of the land. A critical aspect of rangeland management in such dynamic environments is ensuring sufficient forage availability during the dry season.
The rangeland monitoring system, based on satellite technology, gives land managers and policymakers a comprehensive view of rangeland health and impending forage shortages during the rainy season. This allows for timely interventions with adequate lead time.
The Rangeland Early Warning Monitoring System project was developed with financial support from the European Union and Agribank of Namibia from 2015 to 2018, and was implemented by AgraProvision and Agri-Ecological Services. From 2018 to April 2019, the system was funded by Agribank of Namibia, in partnership with AgraProvision. Since 2019, the system has been supported by the Namibian Chamber of Environment and is currently implemented by Agri-Ecological Services.