Every year on 17 June, the world comes together to observe the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCDD), a day that highlights one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time: land degradation.
The 2025 global theme, ‘Restore the Land’, reminds us of both the urgency and opportunity found in rehabilitating ecologically degraded landscapes, not only for nature but for the communities that depend on them. Across the globe, more than 1.5 billion hectares of land need restoration, and Namibia stand as one of Africa’s most visibly affected nations. Yet, within this challenge lies the chance for renewal, and Gondwana Collection Namibia is proudly leading meaningful, long-term restoration initiatives.
In Gondwana Kalahari Park, years of conservative veld management has begun to pay off. This sensitive desert landscape once strained by invasive species and prolonged drought, is now showing signs of recovery visible across the park. Thanks to thoughtful land management practices, the park can support an increase in wildlife populations for the first time in years. Gondwana recently increased the park’s Oryx population by re-introducing 35 Oryx's, this will be more phases of re-introductions to gradually increase the number to 150, a population increase that the veld can viably support while maintaining ecological balance. This isn’t merely a reintroduction, but rather a carefully managed increase in wildlife numbers, aimed at restoring the natural balance between wildlife and habitat while avoiding overburdening the recovering ecosystems.
Oryx’s being released in Gondwana Kalahari Park
An equally critical part of Gondwana’s restoration work focuses on controlling alien invasive plant species. Prosopis species, an alien invasive tree species that has spread aggressively through Namibia’s dry regions, poses a serious threat to native fauna and flora especially along seasonal riverbeds. These trees outcompete indigenous species for water, nutrients and space, through their deep root systems and lack of natural predators. Its unchecked growth can dramatically alter the landscape, choking out vital species like Camelthorn and Ana trees, ultimately reducing biodiversity and ecologically degrading the landscape. Gondwana’s ongoing Prosopis removal in the Gondwana Kalahari Park plays a vital role in restoring the land’s natural balance, especially in the sensitive Kalahari Desert landscape.
Another invasive species on Gondwana’s radar is the invasive Datura species, that spreads dramatically especially after good rainfall. These plants are also removed from Gondwana’s nature parks, particularly in the Gondwana Canyon Park. Through seasonal removal, Gondwana ensures that indigenous fauna and flora can flourish without hindrance. This land management practice enhances the overall biodiversity of the region and helps maintain the delicate ecological balance needed for long-term ecosystem health.
The Fish River Canyon Landscape, known for its iconic Quiver tree (Aloe dichotoma) forests, faces a downturn in surviving Quiver tree populations. These striking, ancient trees are particularly vulnerable to climate change, with many older individuals succumbing to rising temperatures and extended droughts. To safeguard the species’ survival and give back to nature what belongs to nature, Gondwana’s Adopt-a-Quiver Tree project in Gondwana Canyon Park encourages guests to adopt a tree that will be replanted in the park. Since the project’s inception in 2018, over 300 quiver trees have been replanted. Seeds are collected from surviving, climate-resilient trees and nurtured in the Canyon Lodge’s nursery. Once the young trees are strong enough, they are replanted throughout the park, ensuring the next generation of Quiver trees are genetically equipped to better withstand the changing climate and that this iconic species remains a living part of Namibia’s natural heritage.
Quiver tree seed removal in Gondwana Canyon Park
Together, these projects demonstrate that land restoration is not just a theoretical concept but a practical, achievable reality. Healthy, thriving landscapes not only support diverse ecosystems but also improve soil quality, conserve precious water recourses, and contribute to food and economic security. Through its hands-on, locally driven initiatives, Gondwana Collection Namibia is actively contributing to global land restoration, showing that even in some of the world’s most arid environments, the land can be rewilded.
This WDCDD, Gondwana’s land restoration initiatives serve as powerful reminders that meaningful change is possible. By managing wildlife populations sustainably, controlling invasive species, supporting biodiversity and reforesting keystone flora species, our initiatives help to restore the land while protecting livelihoods and preserving the wild beauty that makes Namibia so extraordinary. It’s a journey of resilience, respect, and renewal, one that ensures future generations inherit a landscape as rich, diverse, and breathtaking as the ones we cherish today.