CollectHomepage AdvertisementContact usMessage

Arid Land Geography ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (2): 234-246.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.336

• Earth Surface Process • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Citespace-based literature visualization analysis of the hotspots in the research on desertification prevention and control over the last 45 years and its future prospect

WANG Xinyou1(), MA Quanlin2()   

  1. 1. Gansu Open University, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu, China
    2. Gansu Research Academy of Forestry Science and Technology, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu, China
  • Received:2024-05-31 Revised:2024-11-28 Online:2025-02-25 Published:2025-02-25
  • Contact: MA Quanlin E-mail:wangxiny@gsou.edu.cn;mql925@126.com

Abstract:

Desertification prevention and control is the main direction of implementation of China’s Three-North Shelter Forest Program (TNSFP) and is the key measure toward building a strong ecological shield in western China. To promote the research on the key techniques in desertification prevention and control, and support comprehensive prevention and control, and construct key ecological projects such as TNSFP, the existing findings in this field over 45 years since the implementation of TNSFP were reviewed by using Citespace and traditional literature induction. In addition, the overall characteristics, hotspot evolution, existing problems, and lacunae in the relevant literature were analyzed. Several conclusions were drawn. (1) The number of Chinese and English language papers on desertification prevention and control has been increasing continuously, and its international influence has been gradually enhanced. Such research is characterized by its multidisciplinary and cross-cutting nature. (2) During the last 45 years, such research has gone through three stages: 1978—2000, 2001—2012, and 2013—2023. In the first stage, the focus was on the causes of desertification and the dynamics of land degradation, and the technical model and countermeasures of desertification control. In the second stage, the focus was on ways to effectively implement desertification prevention and control via artificial sand fixation and afforestation. The third stage dealt with the sustainable development of desertification control, such as industrialized desertification control and natural restoration. (3) The research content mainly covers the driving factors and mechanism of desertification, control measures and models, policies and legal regulations, and changes in the ideas on the control of desertification. (4) Research on the causes of desertification has changed from qualitative analysis to qualitative and quantitative analysis. Monitoring of desertification has changed from a local to a cross-regional, cross-national, and cross-continental process and from a static to a dynamic and real-time process. The technical mode of desertification control changed from comparative research to comprehensive applied research. The focus has shifted from using a single technique to integrating multiple techniques and from only attending to wind-proof and sand-fixing benefits to noting their comprehensive effects. Ideas regarding desertification prevention and control are affected by economic, social, and ecological factors, and their evolutionary route encompasses replacing crops with trees or grass, working toward sustainable development, adopting a scientific approach to development, and applying Xi Jinping’s ecological thoughts. (5) Lastly, the current research deals with the rapid fixation of quicksand, new materials and techniques (models) for desertification control, biodiversity protection, realizing the value of ecological services, sand industry development and its policies, and so on. Future research should explore land use and its design, research and development of desertification control equipment and techniques, service function evaluation and exploration, policy improvement, and innovations in the key techniques for desertification control and promotion of these innovations.

Key words: desertification prevention and control, desertification combating, Citespace, hot spot evolution, Three-North Shelter Forest Program(TNSFP)