Responses and feedbacks of African dryland ecosystems to environmental changes

Drylands occupy 43% of the African continent and play an important role in global carbon cycle supporting local livelihoods. Understanding how dryland ecosystems respond to environmental changes, both structurally functionally, is great significance for sustainable management. In this article, we review current remote sensing-based knowledge on ecosystem dynamics main drivers changes. Global CO2 enrichment, changes rainfall regimes, a decline fire activity have collectively driven vegetation greening, woody plant increase drylands over recent decades, challenging long-held desertification narrative. Here also highlight importance rainfall–vegetation–fire feedbacks enhancing resilience predicting future responses.