Bush thickening is the process of increasing density and cover of the woody layer in savannas to such an extent that grass production is negatively affected through the resulting increase in competition (Joubert 2014). It can cause changes in the natural vegetation composition and herbaceous cover (Lesoli et al. 2013). Encroaching woody species compromise ecosystem stability, impair the productivity of rangelands and erode natural capital (Lesoli et al. 2013). Key causes for bush thickening include: Poor grazing management; The replacement of adapted indigenous animals, particularly browsers, with less adapted high producing grazing livestock at sometimes high stocking rates; Changes in the climate; Differences in topography and soils and changes in these factors; Increases in atmospheric CO2; Changes in natural fire regimes; The erection of fences that restricts the natural movement patterns of the herbivores. The extent of bush thickening in Namibia is estimated to be between 45 million hectares (Seebauer et al. 2019) and 62 million hectares (Rothauge 2014). Due to the extent of bush thickening in Namibia, it has become a separate indicator for land degradation in Namibia’s Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting. A key target is the reduction of bush on 18 880km2 (1.9 million hectares) by 2040 (Hengari 2018).