Dryland degradation is widely viewed as a major environmental issue and in many parts of Namibia is perceived to be significant to severe. In recent years, however, following a worldwide trend, there has been a re-evaluation and questioning of the extent, nature and causes of dryland degradation. Too often it seems pronouncements of degradation are based on limited data and a poor understanding of the context and functioning of dryland ecosystems. The aim of this report, therefore, is to demonstrate why an historical perspective of environmental dynamics is valuable in drylands for the identification of degradation and to evaluate the use of such a perspective using northern Damaraland a case study. In order to achieve this aim, several objectives were addressed, these being: to provide a clear and unambiguous definition of the term 'dryland degradation' or 'land degradation'; to review possible indicators and agents of environmental change and land degradation; to provide a conceptual framework that emphasises the importance of an historical; perspective, and the role of arid rangeland dynamics, in evaluating environmental change; to analyse environmental dynamics in northern Damaraland from an historical perspective, utilising aerial photography and archival data in the form of stock numbers; to highlight inherent problems and the utility of an historical perspective.