The step-by-step selection process proposed in this study to assist with the selection of indicators for climate change provides an objective tool in areas where biodiversity coverage is not adequate and little is known about physiology, growth and reproductive patterns of individual species. As such it introduces a method for preliminary screening of species, but will require further input based on field observations and expert knowledge. Keywords: arid lands, biodiversity, canonical correspondence analysis, plant species, Namibia, Namib Desert, Nama Karoo.