July 2025: Radio interviews on the causes of desertification in Germany and Namibia

Prof. Anja Linstädter  was recently featured on the German radio program "Die Profis" (Radio Eins RBB), where she discussed about the causes and dynamics of desertification in two contrasting regions: the Lieberoser Desert in Brandenburg (Germany), and Namibia's semi-arid rangelands (Fig. 1). During the interview, she highlighted the different drivers of land degradation in these areas and presented insights from the NamTip project, which investigates the social-ecological factors behind desertification and explores solutions for restoring degraded rangelands, particularly in Namibia's communal areas.

A full podcast of the radio interview, which aired on 12 July 2025, is available here  and below (German only):

In a second radio interview on “Die Welt am Morgen” (Bayerische Rundfunk), Prof. Linstädter focused on Germany’s driest soils. She explained that erosion by wind and water, along with human activities, are the main causes of their degradation. However, the term “desertification” does not yet apply to most German landscapes, although ongoing climate change could increase drying trends, potentially leading to similar outcomes as seen in southern Africa’s drylands. To mitigate this risk, Prof. Linstädter emphasized the importance of improved agricultural practices, such as maintaining permanent soil cover and establishing natural windbreaks like hedgerows. These strategies must gain greater attention in political discussions if desertification is to be prevented in Germany.

You can listen to the full interview of Prof. Linstädter here (German only):