Much concern is raised on issues like desertification (see the UN Convention on Desertification) and the conservation of biological diversity (see the Convention on Biological Diversity). In the Namibian constitution a paragraph is included relating to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources (Article 95(l)). "Deforestation" and "bush encroachment" are the two most mentioned environmental problems facing the communal and commercial farming sectors respectively. Little is known about the processes of degradation. In this paper some examples of vegetation degradation are given. In the northern Oshikoto region, degradation is the result of a general overexploitation of the natural resources: overgrazing as well as deforestation. In the central parts of the country, with commercial cattle farming as main agricultural practice, overgrazing leads to a reduction of the grass cover and with it an increase in woody plants ("bush encroachment") but also increased erosion.