Diversity of wild herbaceous legumes in Southern Africa, their associated root nodule bacteria, and insect pests. In: Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa -assessments, changes, challenges, and solutions (ed. by Revermann, R., Krewenka, K.M., Schmiedel, U., Olwoch, J.M., Helmschrot, J. & Jürgens, N.) Abstract: Climate change models predict that most parts of southern Africa including Botswana and Namibia will experience severe water stress and temperature increases as a result of climate change. Wild drought-tolerant nitrogen-fi xing plants with heat-tolerant bacterial symbionts might be a source for mitigation, nutrient-rich grazing grounds, and soil fertility. Herbaceous legumes may be developed into forage plants that are resilient to climate change eff ects. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to assess the diversity of wild herbaceous legumes in the north-western and eastern parts of Botswana, northern parts of Namibia, and Northern Cape of South Africa. They were assessed for nodulation and insect damage, root nodule bacteria were isolated, and some were identifi ed and authenticated on their homologous hosts. In Namibia, rhizosphere bacteria were isolated and characterised. For the fi rst time, it was shown that a wide range of wild legumes in the study area were nodulated.