2003 Volume 3 Pages 35-50
The purpose of this research is to clarify the relationship between environmental change and vegetational succession along the Kuiseb River of the Namib Desert.
Sand dunes are thought to have encroached into the Kuiseb Valley several hundred years ago, because it is estimated that tall trees such as Acacia erioloba and Faidherbia (Acacia) albida died 300-400 years ago. The sand dunes are now covered by bush of Salvadora persica. Although nara (Acanthosicyos horridus) is an important plant in the Namib Desert, it has recently died out in the lower Kuiseb River due to environmental change. Such plants as Acacia erioloba, Faidherbia albida, and Acanthosicyos horridus are very important for the local people (Topnaar) as food and shade-trees for both humans and livestock. The succession of vegetation governed by the environmental change significantly affects the life of people in the area along the Kuiseb River, because the environmental conditions are harsh and plants are poor there.