Enivronmental Degradation

Question 1

Rural degradation

Answer 1

The change in the condition of land which reduce its productive potential in a rural environment

Question 2

Poverty constraint

Answer 2

• For example, the large and poor population in Namibia has for many years exploited the land around the country - they have been forced into this situation because poverty has meant they are only able to focus on short-term gains. Thus causing rural stagnation which leads to desertification and land degradation.
• HOWEVER, the Namibian government is trying to overcome this constrain by trying to reduce poverty through economic development of poor areas. Poverty has been reducing because people are getting jobs with tourism companies so a decreased amount of subsistence farmers resulting in less rural environmental degradation

Question 3

Lack of control constraint

Answer 3

Governments often pass laws to reduce environmental degradation, eg. banning logging. However it is very difficult to enforce these laws in remote rural areas where illegal loggers can log the trees and be gone before the authorities realize what is happening.

• In Namibia, corruption often means that officials turn a blind eye to activities that are damaging thus leading to rural environmental degradation. In the past, there was a lack of control of the land and people by the Namibian government
• HOWEVER the Sustainable Development Goals in Namibia target is take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.

Question 4

Ignorance is a constraint

Answer 4

• Tradition often dictates that chance is fiercely resisted. For example, recurrent droughts have highlight the vulnerability of Namibia’s agriculture sector to the impacts of climate change. Subsistence farming in Namibia has low crop yields, a high dependency on rainfall, limited water access, and poor management practice.
• HOWEVER, Namibia has significantly benefited the farmers with the Farming for Resilience project which has positively impacted with training on sustainable agriculture to more than 32,500 communal farmers. 61 per cent of all attendees have employed good agricultural practices as a direct result of the training interventions.

Question 5

Lack of choice is a constraint

Answer 5

• They need food to feed their families and they don’t have any money to invest in newer, less damaging farming practices.
• The high unemployment rate of Namibia has lead to many people having no choice but conducting harmful subsistence farming to the environment due to having no experience and lack of technical skills to farm sustainably.
• HOWEVER, the conservancy has created many job opportunities for local community members to choose from. Job opportunities include managing campsites and selling wildlife to game ranchers. The Community Conservation Program has diversified their incomes as the program has provided more and different job opportunities. Communities have increased their average incomes through the program.

Question 6

Conclusion

Answer 6

• Overall, while constraints to improving the quality of Namibia’s rural degraded environment remain, progress has been made in reducing them. Continued efforts to strengthen policies, mobilize resources, and creating partnerships internationally will be crucial in achieving sustainable management of Namibia’s rural environment in the future.