Data from: Protected areas buffer the Brazilian semi-arid biome from climate change

The Caatinga is a botanically unique semi-arid ecosystem in northeast
Brazil whose vegetation is adapted to the periodic droughts that
characterize this region. However, recent extreme droughts events caused
by anthropogenic climate change have challenged its ecological resilience.
Here, we evaluate how deforestation and protection status affect the
response of the Caatinga vegetation to drought. Specifically, we compared
vegetation responses to drought in natural and deforested areas as well as
inside and outside protected areas, using a time-series of
satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and
climatic data for 2008–2013. We observed a strong effect of deforestation
and land protection on overall vegetation productivity and in productivity
dynamics in response to precipitation. Overall, deforested areas had
significantly lower NDVI and delayed greening in response to
precipitation. By contrast, strictly protected areas had higher
productivity and considerable resilience to low levels of precipitation,
when compared to sustainable use or unprotected areas. These results
highlight the importance of protected areas in protecting ecosystem
processes and native vegetation in the Caatinga against the negative
effects of climate change and deforestation. Given the extremely small
area of the Caatinga currently under strict protection, the creation of
new conservation areas must be a priority to ensure the sustainability of
ecological processes and to avoid further desertification.