Since the submission and presentation of Namibia's First National Report on the Implementation of the UN convention to combat desertification, at the third and fourth conferences of the parties, Namibia has continued to implement Phase III of Namibia’s Programme to Combat Desertification known as Napcod. Desertification issues are addressed in the current National Development Plan (NDP2), which emphasises sustainability. Activities that led to the development of the Programme and the initial four- year implementation phase are dealt with in the 1st national report, and form part of Namibia's National Assessment Report prepared for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Land degradation issues warrant a chapter in the Natural Resources Sector of the recently drafted Vision 2030. Independence, just over a decade ago, presented the opportunity to reform outdated legislation and revise policies, many dealing with the conservation, management and use of natural resources, including community participation. Napcod reviewed the policies pertinent to desertification in 1996 and identified disincentives to sustainable development. As several of these policies have since been revised and new policies developed, the most pertinent being the National Drought Policy of 1997, it is now opportune to assess the pertinent policies, plans and legislation and how they relate to combating  desertification.