the Bush Encroachment issue

Large areas of Namibia’s savanna landscapes are increasingly dominated by woody encroacher species, reducing grass cover and productivity. This impacts grazing capacity, biodiversity, tourism potential, and rural livelihoods.

Omiti’s approach treats encroacher bush as a restoration opportunity: remove excess bush selectively and convert the biomass into climate-positive products and carbon removals.

What is Bush Encroachment?

Bush encroachment is defined as the invasion and/or thickening of aggressive undesired woody species resulting in an imbalance of the grass-to-bush ratio, where woody species are out-competing grasses. The term bush encroachment refers to the expansion of native plants and not the spread of alien invasive species, therefore it’s about plant density and not species. 

The main species causing Namibia’s bush encroachment problem are Acacia mellifera subsp. detinens (Black thorn), Dichrostachys cineria (Sickle bush), Terminalia sericea (Silver terminalia), Terminalia prunioides (Purple-pod terminalia), Acacia erubescens (Blue thorn), Acacia reficiens (False umbrella thorn) and Colophospermum mopane (Mopane).

The phenomenon of bush encroachment has led to serious negative consequences for Namibia, which includes:

• Decreased biodiversity, 
• An increase in land degradation and deterioration,
• The degradation of the functions and structures of ecological ecosystems, 
• A decrease in rangelands’ livestock carrying capacity, 
• A decrease of between 30% and 50% in Namibia’s beef production,
• The displacement of wildlife, 
• As well as impacting groundwater recharge, and importantly
• The decrease in food security and livelihoods in rural communities throughout the country.

But there lies an opportunity within this bush encroachment problem, and that is the huge source of biomass it offers. 

There needs to be a balance between rehabilitating and maintaining savanna ecosystems while commercially using bush resources.

 We follow a field-first method designed for environmental responsibility and operational practicality:

• Selective harvesting aligned with ecological safeguards
• Local teams and training that build long-term capability
• Conversion to biochar to lock carbon away and reduce waste burning
• Integrated project design that connects land restoration, livelihoods, and carbon finance