sustainability Article Assessment and Evaluation of the Response of Vegetation Dynamics to Climate Variability in Africa Vincent Nzabarinda 1,2,3 , Anming Bao 1,2, Wenqiang Xu 1,2,*, Solange Uwamahoro 1,2,3, Liangliang Jiang 4, Yongchao Duan 5, Lamek Nahayo 6 , Tao Yu 1,2,3, Ting Wang 1,2,3 and Gang Long 1,2,3 1 State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China;
[email protected] (V.N.);
[email protected] (A.B.);
[email protected] (S.U.);
[email protected] (T.Y.);
[email protected] (T.W.);
[email protected] (G.L.) 2 Key Laboratory of GIS & RS Application Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi 830011, China 3 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China 4 School of Geography and Tourism, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China;
[email protected] 5 Binjiang College, Nanjing University of Information Engineering, Nanjing 210044, China;
[email protected] 6 Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali, 6392 Kigali, Rwanda;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected] 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 mak- ing. However, acquiring this knowledge can be useful for future predictions towards improved governance for sustainable development. In this study, we analyzed the spatial–temporal charac- teristics of vegetation greenness, and identified the possible relationships with climatic factors and vulnerable plant species across Africa.