A Bibliometric Analysis of Land Degradation and Desertification Monitoring Based on the Scopus Database (2021–2025)

Abstract

Land degradation and desertification threaten ecological balance, agricultural productivity, and human well-being, particularly in arid and semi-arid zones. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of global research on land degradation and desertification monitoring using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) for the period 2021–2025, based on the Scopus database. A total of 655 peer-reviewed articles were retrieved and analysed with the Bibliometrix package in R to examine publication trends, leading journals, productive authors, institutions, contributing countries, collaboration patterns, and thematic structure. The results show an overall upward trend in scientific output, especially after 2022, alongside the rapid integration of machine learning, cloud computing, and advanced satellite data into monitoring workflows; remote sensing, land degradation, and GIS were the most frequent keywords. Output and citations were highly concentrated in a few countries, led by China, and the institutional collaboration network displayed a core–periphery structure in which international cooperation was unevenly distributed. A complementary analysis indicated that severely affected dryland regions, especially Central Asia, remain under-represented in the international literature. The study also identifies persistent challenges, including unequal research capacity across regions and the limited field-based validation of remote-sensing assessments. By mapping the most recent research landscape and situating Central Asia within it, this work provides an updated, technology-focused reference point that complements earlier regional reviews and highlights priorities for future, more inclusive monitoring research.