From space to screen: Recent advances in remote sensing for mangrove valuation through a bibliometric lens

Abstract

With the escalating global need for sustainable mangrove ecosystem management (i.e., understanding, monitoring, preserving, and planning) due to their unique ecological and economic significance, remote sensing has emerged as a valuable tool to assess the state of these habitats. Recent advances in remote sensing (RS) technology have revolutionized the way mangroves are valued and evaluated, particularly in urban areas. While these technological developments have significantly improved our ability to manage vital ecosystems, the current literature provides only partial insights into the state of RS applications (RSA) for mangrove valuation. Hence, evaluating the impact of recent advances in RSA on the field of mangrove management through a systematic review is desirable, which could potentially provide the scientific community with a comprehensive and broader understanding of the subject matter.

We, therefore, conduct a detailed analysis of RSA for mangrove mapping and valuation over the past two decades. We examine the research landscape and uncover a substantial body of literature that encompasses the physical, biological, economic, and management aspects of mangroves. The current spectrum of the RSA highlights the relationship between mangrove valuation paper production, its relevant sources and affiliations, and is closely tied to past events and technological advancements. The collaboration is higher between Western countries and mangrove-growing nations in the East, such as Vietnam. Our findings indicate that countries without mangrove resources (e.g., Germany) have shown interest in valuing mangroves and collaborating with mangrove-rich countries for research purposes.

While noticeable progress has been made in integrating RS techniques with mangrove valuation, there is still potential for growth, particularly in leveraging technology for a comprehensive assessment of ecosystem services. International collaboration remains pivotal for advancing research and practical conservation efforts. Our recommendations underscore the need for refined literature clustering methodologies to enable nuanced tracking of emerging trends, disciplinary crossovers, and the evolution of the research domain.