非洲大陆拥有世界上最广泛的草原覆盖,提供有价值的生态系统服务。非洲草原,像其他大陆草原一样,容易受到各种人为干扰和气候的影响,并且需要数据驱动的监控,以实现高效的功能和服务交付。然而,缺乏关于非洲草原覆盖在过去几年中如何变化的知识,特别是在次大陆一级,由于缺乏相关的长期,非洲范围的观察和实验。在这项研究中,我们使用2001年至2017年的中分辨率成像光谱仪(MODIS)土地覆盖类型(MCD12Q1)数据进行了土地利用土地覆盖(LULC)变化分析,并绘制了非洲的草地分布图。具体来说,我们评估了三个时期(2001-2013年,2013-2017年和2001-2017年)非洲亚大陆内草地覆盖的变化.我们发现,2001年,2013年和2017年非洲草地覆盖面积分别为16,777,765.5km2,16,999,468.25km2和16,968,304.25km2。2001-2013年和2013-2017年期间有净收益(1.32%)和净亏损(-0.19%),分别,这些时期的年变化率分别为0.11%和-0.05%,分别。一般来说,在整个研究期间(2001-2017年),非洲草地覆盖率以林地为代价增加了1.14%(每年0.07%),农田,和建成区。东非和西非的草地覆盖减少了0.07%(每年-0.02%)和1.35%(每年-0.34%),分别从2013年到2017年,但在其他时期有所增加。另一方面,北非和中非的草地覆盖在三个时期内增加,而南部非洲的草地覆盖在三个时期内减少。总的来说,其他非洲次大陆草地覆盖的净收益抵消了南部非洲的损失,并促进了整个非洲的总体收益。这项研究强调了需要持续监测非洲草原及其变化的原因,以有效提供生态系统服务。
The African continent has the most extensive grassland cover in the world, providing valuable ecosystem services. African grasslands, like other continental grasslands, are prone to various anthropogenic disturbances and climate, and require data-driven monitoring for efficient functioning and service delivery. Yet, knowledge of how the African grassland cover has changed in the past years is lacking, especially at the subcontinent level, due to lack of relevant long-term, Africa-wide observations and experiments. In this study, we used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Land Cover Type (MCD12Q1) data spanning 2001 to 2017 to conduct land use land cover (LULC) change analyses and map grassland distribution in Africa. Specifically, we assessed the changes in grassland cover across and within African subcontinents over three periods (2001-2013, 2013-2017, and 2001-2017). We found that the African grassland cover was 16,777,765.5 km2, 16,999,468.25 km2, and 16,968,304.25 km2 in 2001, 2013, and 2017, respectively. There were net gain (1.32%) and net loss (- 0.19%) during 2001-2013 and 2013-2017 periods, respectively, and the annual rate of change during these periods were 0.11% and - 0.05%, respectively. Generally, the African grassland cover increased by 1.14% (0.07% per annum) over the entire study period (2001-2017) at the expense of forestland, cropland, and built-up areas. The East and West African grassland cover reduced by 0.07% (- 0.02% per annum) and 1.35% (- 0.34% per annum), respectively from 2013 to 2017 but increased in other periods. On the other hand, the grassland cover in North and Central Africa increased throughout the three periods while that of Southern Africa decreased over the three periods. Overall, the net gains in the grassland cover of other African subcontinents offset the loss in Southern Africa and promoted the overall gain across Africa. This study underscores the need for continuous monitoring of African grasslands and the causes of their changes for efficient delivery of ecosystem services.