It is generally considered that the open woodlands of north-west Namibia are experiencing widespread degradation due to over-use of resources by local herders. Data are presented regarding community floristics, diversity, density, cover and population structure for woody vegetation. These are analysed in relation to abiotic factors of topography and substrate, and to settlement impacts represented indirectly by distance from settlement and directly by measures of branch cutting and browsing. Keywords: abiotic factors, biotic, open woodland, degradation, pastoralism, policy, scale, desertification, traditional communal farming.