A bibliometric analysis of nature-based solutions and urban forests as a nature-based solution using Web of Science and CiteSpace™ during its foundational stage

Urban forests as a nature-based solution (UF-NbS) is a subset of nature-based solutions (NbS), which recognises the potential of tree-based urban landscapes to provide ecosystem services. This study employed CiteSpace™ software to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of NbS and UF-NbS in literature, utilising the Web of Science (WoS) databases for literature in English. 2014 – 2021 emerges as a period during which foundational theories, early applications, and key trends emerged in NbS research which have shaped the field. Visualisations of NbS applications, particularly in urban forest management are presented along with an analysis aimed to uncover research patterns and collaborative pathways. In addition, the paper sets out to establish the groundwork for further investigations into urban forest disciplines based on NbS science and key technological innovations. The primary findings are that research on NbS and UF-NbS has emerged as a hot topic in recent years; that European institutions and groups have played an essential role in the development of this field by fostering close academic cooperation networks, and that research elsewhere, such as China, is still in its development stage. We propose that future studies should add other web directories, search in other languages and utilise multiple bibliometric tools. It is evident that research in this domain continues to evolve rapidly and that bibliometric studies from 2022 onwards can help identify emerging research directions and applications.