A newly published international research study, led by the University of Hamburg, has documented an unprecedented level of desertification impacting southern Africa, specifically within the Richtersveld region. The Richtersveld, a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its exceptional biodiversity – home to approximately 1,000 plant species found nowhere else on Earth – is facing a significant ecological threat. For comparison, fewer than 100 endemic plant species are known to exist throughout Germany.
The study, published in the “Journal of Arid Environments”, reveals a dramatic decline in vegetation and biodiversity across most of the Richtersveld landscape. Analysis of plant composition and abundance over up to 45 years, combined with historical satellite imagery, demonstrates a clear pattern of formerly productive grazing land being increasingly covered by sand, with abandoned farmsteads disappearing beneath encroaching dunes.
Researchers attribute this desertification to a combination of climate change and human activity. Diamond mining operations, which leave open-pit mines unremediated, are identified as contributing factors. The study highlights the importance of addressing these issues to prevent further ecological damage.
The research team recommends proactive measures to combat desertification, including stricter oversight of mining practices and targeted conservation efforts focused on particularly vulnerable areas. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Richtersveld falls under the protection commitments of all 194 signatory states, including Germany.