Agent-based Modeling and Simulation of a Pastoral- nomadic Land Use System

Almost half of Africa is covered by arid savan- nas, which are used as rangelands and are the source of livelihood for a vast population. To sustain pasture quality, degradation has to be avoided and efficient and sustaina- ble land use strategies are needed. This paper describes the development of a simulation model representing the range management strategies of the Himba people in north-western Namibia. The model recognizes spatial factors and the impact of management decisions on eco- system dynamics. The paper also describes the process of creating and validating a software application, and imple- menting the model.