Bush encroachment has increased significantly in Namibia over past decades, largely as a result of habitat change. It affects an estimated 26 to 30 million hectares of land in Namibia, although this figure is currently under review. Overgrazing is thought to be a key driver of bush encroachment, but the displacement of browsers by livestock, the suppression of high intensity fires due to cattle farming, rainfall and its variability, and increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations are also likely contributors. Bush encroachment has negative impacts on some of Namibia's key ecosystem services, such as livestock production, groundwater recharge, and tourism, as well as biodiversity. This has given rise to calls for an extensive programme of de-bushing, to reduce bush encroachment and try to reverse some of these negative effects. De-bushing also offers economic opportunities for the utilisation of woody biomass via charcoal and firewood production, electricity generation, and other means.