Characterizing post-fire recovery of fynbos vegetation in the Western Cape Region of South Africa using MODIS data

Post-fire recovery trajectories of five fynbos vegetation stands in the Western Cape Region of South Africa were characterized using moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer MODIS normalized difference vegetation index NDVI 250 m data. Indices of NDVI recovery relative to pre-fire values or values from unburnt control plots indicated full recovery within 7 years and particularly rapid recovery in the first two post-fire years. Intra-stand variability of pixel NDVIs generally increased after fires and also exhibited a rapid recovery to pre-fire conditions. While stand age was the dominant determinant of NDVI recovery, drought interrupted the recovery pathways and this effect was amplified on drier, equator-facing slopes. Post-fire recovery characteristics of fynbos NDVI were found to be similar to those documented for chaparral vegetation in California despite contrasting rainfall and soil nutrient conditions in the two regions.