Early European travellers were impressed by the trees and forests of the Owambo region, north Namibia. As they became better acquainted with the Owambo way of life, Europeans began to warn of deforestation in the region. This article explores environmental change and especially deforestation in the Owambo region since the 1850s. The paper discusses the crucial elements affecting deforestation in north Namibia: population growth and settlement patterns, land use practices, the structure of production, consumption patterns of wood, and valuations related to forests.