People have observed and sometimes recorded environmental change, drought, and desertification for several millennia. Today, scientists from a multiplicity of disciplines are intensively observing, recording, analysing, and modelling environmental change from a diversity of perspectives. At the same time, a vast number of people living in drylands are experiencing environmental change including drought and desertification and many of these are dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods. A majority do not have access to scientific data for application in their natural resource management and increased communication from scientists is one potential solution to this dilemma. Another potential solution is local level monitoring and use of locally gathered and analysed information by farmers and local communities. This paper describes one approach to local level monitoring which provides information about environmental conditions for use in resource manage-ment and decision-making at national to local levels in Namibia. Such an approach also contributes to drought risk management for those living in drylands. Keywords: Community-based resource management, desertification, drought, Namibia, natural resources.