Dryland productivity under a changing climate

In this Review, the authors discuss recent advances in understanding dryland productivity and functions, examining outstanding debates on dryland response to change and the uncertainties associated with predicting climate trajectories. Understanding dryland dynamics is essential to predict future climate trajectories. However, there remains large uncertainty on the extent to which drylands are expanding or greening, the drivers of dryland vegetation shifts, the relative importance of different hydrological processes regulating ecosystem functioning, and the role of land-use changes and climate variability in shaping ecosystem productivity. We review recent advances in the study of dryland productivity and ecosystem function and examine major outstanding debates on dryland responses to environmental changes. We highlight often-neglected uncertainties in the observation and prediction of dryland productivity and elucidate the complexity of dryland dynamics. We suggest prioritizing holistic approaches to dryland management, accounting for the increasing climatic and anthropogenic pressures and the associated uncertainties.

Automated summary

This review focuses on recent advances and outstanding debates in understanding dryland productivity and functions. The authors emphasize the importance of understanding dryland dynamics for predicting future climate trajectories. However, there are significant uncertainties regarding dryland expansion or greening, the drivers of vegetation shifts, the role of different hydrological processes, and the impact of land-use changes and climate variability on ecosystem productivity. The authors suggest prioritizing holistic approaches to dryland management to account for increasing climatic and anthropogenic pressures and associated uncertainties.