Remote Sensing Evidence of Climate-Driven Vegetation Decline and Desertification in the Biskra Region Northeastern Algeria (2005-2025)

S. Abbas; N. Diab

doi:10.56093/aaz.v65i4.175417

Authors

S. Abbas Scientific and Technical Research Center on Arid Regions CRSTRA, P.O. Box 1682, Rp 07000. Biskra, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8364-9064
N. Diab Scientific and Technical Research Center on Arid Regions CRSTRA, P.O. Box 1682, Rp 07000. Biskra, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4544-2083

https://doi.org/10.56093/aaz.v65i4.175417

Keywords:

Multi-index, Degradation, , Climate Change, Remote Sensing, , Arid Regions, , Spatio-temporal Analysis.

Abstract

Arid and semi-arid regions are particularly vulnerable to climate change, where rising temperatures and declining rainfall accelerate vegetation degradation and desertification processes. Remote sensing provides an effective framework for monitoring these environmental changes over time. This study aims to assess spatio-temporal vegetation dynamics and identify the role of climate change in driving desertification in the Biskra region between 2005 and 2025, using multiple remote sensing vegetation indices. The findings reveal significant environmental degradation in the Biskra region over the study period. The median Green Chlorophyll Index (GCI) declined sharply from 1.5 to 0.78, indicating a marked reduction in photosynthetic efficiency. Similarly, the median Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) decreased from 0.4 to 0.1, reflecting severe vegetation stress. The Transformed Soil-adjusted Vegetation Index (TSAVI) showed a 35% loss in peak vegetation density between 2005 and 2015, with its maximum value dropping from 0.94 to 0.61. Although a partial recovery was observed by 2025, as the TSAVI maximum returned to 0.94, this improvement remained localized and did not represent a regional recovery. These vegetation declines coincided with pronounced climatic changes. Mean annual temperature increased from 20.5°C to 23.8°C, while precipitation became increasingly irregular, decreasing from 152 mm to 118 mm and reaching a critical minimum of 68 mm during the 2021 drought. Additional indices confirmed the degradation trend, with median NDVI values falling from 0.15 to 0.08 and SAVI from 0.18 to 0.09. Spatial analysis revealed persistent heterogeneity, with high-density vegetation confined to northern areas, while degraded zones expanded to cover 78% of the region. Overall, the results highlight climate change as the primary driver of desertification, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted ecosystem resilience strategies.

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