Assessment and Evaluation of the Response of Vegetation Dynamics to Climate Variability in Africa

Vincent Nzabarinda, Anming Bao, Wenqiang Xu, Solange Uwamahoro, Liangliang Jiang, Yongchao Duan, Lamek Nahayo, Tao Yu, Ting Wang and Gang Long
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Vincent Nzabarinda: State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Anming Bao: State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Wenqiang Xu: State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Solange Uwamahoro: State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Liangliang Jiang: School of Geography and Tourism, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
Yongchao Duan: Binjiang College, Nanjing University of Information Engineering, Nanjing 210044, China
Lamek Nahayo: Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali, 6392 Kigali, Rwanda
Tao Yu: State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Ting Wang: State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Gang Long: State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: Understanding the impacts of climate variability and change on terrestrial ecosystems in Africa remains a critical issue for ecology as well as for regional and global climate policy making. However, acquiring this knowledge can be useful for future predictions towards improved governance for sustainable development. In this study, we analyzed the spatial–temporal characteristics of vegetation greenness, and identified the possible relationships with climatic factors and vulnerable plant species across Africa. Using a set of robust statistical metrics on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI3g) for precipitation and temperature over 34 years from 1982 to 2015, relevant results were obtained. The findings show that, for NDVI, the annual rate of increase (0.013 y −1 ) was less than that of decrease (−0.014 y −1 ). In contrast, climate data showed a sharper increase than a marked decrease. Temperature is increasing while rainfall is decreasing, both at a sharp rate in central Africa. In Africa, tree cover, broadleaved, deciduous, closed to open (>15%) and shrubland plant species are critically endangered. The tropical vegetation devastated by the climate variability, causes different plant species to gradually perish; some were cleared out from the areas which experienced degradation, while others were from that of improvement. This study provides valuable information to African governments in order to improve environmental sustainability and development that will lead to the sustainability of natural resources.

Keywords: climate variability; vegetation dynamics; Africa; plant species (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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