The aim of our project is the development and application of a system for the modelling of Odonata diversity - on population, species and community level - in arid and semiarid regions of Africa. The model-system will help to understand the dynamics of Odonata communities and to evaluate different scenarios of global change and anthropogenic effects for ecosystemmanagement. Odonate diversity can be used as an indicator in this context. Keywords: Odonata, ephemeral rivers, species and community diversity, population diversity, isolation, habitat suitability, population development, distribution maps.