Only when flowering will Psammophora modesta lose the effective camouflage colours protecting it on the open, barren Richtersveld slopes and flats. Livestock and game browsing and grazing here are, however, also adapted to survive in this food-scarce environment, continually on the lookout for the next few mouthfuls.

Many mesemb species, even whole genera are never or seldom browsed, while others are palatable, becoming threatened in overgrazed conditions; also from trampling.

When subsistence farmers do not have fencing, curbing stock numbers is the only form of vegetation protection. But what to do when the human numbers are high, food scarce and the droughts frequent?