Spatial and temporal variations in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index in Cuba

Vegetation spectral indexes have been one of the most effective ways to assess the properties of plant cover and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has been one of the most used. Our objective was to describe spatial and temporal differences of the NDVI in Cuba, according to types of vegetation and land use. The temporal analysis was divided into multiannual and annual. The index values were sampled using 10 000 random points, classified according to land use, plant formation, and altitude. Samples were taken from 23 protected natural areas, which presented the largest area of terrestrial surface. The index had a global average of 0.702 +/- 0.198, with 71% of the values above 0.60. The areas of anthropogenic uses showed index values 10% lower than natural vegetation. The forest formations had values greater than 0.8, except for mangroves. Protected areas showed different index values, concerning their management and extension category. The covers used can serve as a basis for studies on the distribution of vegetation and fauna in Cuba.