A bibliometric analysis on mangrove ecosystem services: Past trends and emerging interests.

In recent decades, climate change and other environmental threats have driven growing interest in the value of ecosystem services, particularly for communities reliant on mangrove forests. This study utilized a bibliometric analysis of 1222 academic papers on 'mangrove' and 'ecosystem services' published between 1998 and 2023. Data from the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases were analyzed using VOSviewer and the Bibliometrix R package to gain comprehensive insights. Based on citation frequency, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom were the top countries contributing to research in this field. Analysis of keywords revealed a focus on 'mangrove,' 'ecosystem services,' 'ecosystem,' 'conservation,' and 'forests.' In contrast, the author keywords highlighted emerging themes like 'blue carbon,' 'climate change,' and 'wetland.' 'Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science' and 'Ocean and Coastal Management' were leading journals in this domain, reflecting the strong presence of multidisciplinary research. Notably, only one of the top ten journals, 'Ecosystem Services,' belongs to the social sciences. Trend analysis suggested evolving research interests, with recent studies focusing on 'mangrove conservation,' 'restoration,' and 'community,' compared to earlier emphases on 'mangrove' and 'ecosystem services' around 2019. Thematic mapping further underscored this dynamism, with ecosystem services emerging as a rapidly expanding multidisciplinary field. Notably, the thematic evaluation revealed a shift in focus, with ecosystem services and mangroves transitioning from fundamental to motor themes. This bibliometric analysis offered valuable insights into current research trends, fostered understanding within a multidisciplinary context, and paved the way for future studies in this critical field. The study underscored the importance of focusing future research on mangrove ecosystem services, particularly in gaining support from policymakers for evidence-based policies. It emphasized the need for transdisciplinary studies to assess the impacts of ecosystem services and conservation policies. It also highlighted a crucial gap in the literature regarding the sustainability of mangrove ecosystem services, suggesting the integration of economic, environmental, and engineering approaches for more effective policy initiatives. • The study exclusively mapped the literature on mangrove ecosystem services from 1998 to 2023. • Authors and institutions from developed countries have been dominating the field. • Research on evidence-based policymaking has been overlooked, especially from transdisciplinary perspectives. • One area that requires significant attention is the sustainability of mangrove ecosystem services. • There is a need to integrate environmental and engineering approaches with economic perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]