This paper reports on the results from a household survey of forest resources use in the north-central regions of Namibia (NCR), focusing on the four relatively densely settled rural areas, which also include several small rapidly developing urban nodes. The paper aims to address the concern that both poverty and economic development are increasing and driving over-utilisation of forest resources. We examined current levels of utilisation of forest resources at a household level and applied a dynamic modelling approach in order to develop policy pointers that can maximise poverty alleviation and conservation benefits as Namibia develops.