Progress and Prospects of Research on Important Agricultural Heritage Systems: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on CiteSpace
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Abstract
The Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS), a newly recognized category of cultural heritage, has garnered significant attention within the international scientific community. As global research on IAHS continues to grow, numerous scholars have conducted literature reviews on this subject. However, there remains a lack of visualized studies that effectively delineate emerging research trends. To address this gap, this study employs a bibliometric approach to provide a comprehensive analysis of the research progress and overarching development trends of the Global Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) from 2006 to 2023, offering valuable insights for the future development of related regions and nations. A total of 537 articles from the Web of Science Core Collection, published between 2006 and 2023, were analyzed using CiteSpace software. The findings reveal that international IAHS research can be divided into two phases: a fluctuating growth phase and a stable growth phase. Key countries and regions contributing numerous papers to core journals on IAHS include Canada, China, the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Italy. Influential institutions in IAHS research include the Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, McMaster University, University of Twente, and the University of Toronto. Water Resources Research and Journal of Hydrology are the most frequently cited journals. Research hotspots over the past 18 years have concentrated on topics such as agricultural heritage systems, regeneration, agroforestry systems, dry stone walls, social capital, instability, and agricultural biodiversity. Research themes have primarily focused on GIAHS, tourism, livelihood assets, and georeferencing. Authors from different countries and regions have focused on distinct research themes. Based on the findings, future research should prioritize practical applications, micro–level perspectives, social science research, standardized quantitative methods, and expanding international collaboration. In–depth exploration in these areas will provide substantial support and guidance for the continued development of IAHS research.
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