A scientometric analysis and systematic review on climate change and coastal wetlands

Abstract

Coastal wetlands, including mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows, are crucial ecosystems facing existential threats from climate change drivers such as accelerated sea-level rise, intensified storms, and warming temperatures. Although numerous studies have focused on climate change and coastal wetlands, a comprehensive, data-driven synthesis of the field’s intellectual structure, evolution, and future trajectory is lacking. This study presents a novel mixed-methods systematic review, integrating quantitative scientometric analysis of 1872 publications (2005–2025) with an in-depth qualitative systematic analysis of 95 key articles. The bibliographic data was obtained from the Scopus database, and a Python-based analytical pipeline is utilized. This review maps the field’s exponential growth, influential contributions, and collaboration networks. The analysis identifies five main research clusters: Blue Carbon Biogeochemistry, Geomorphic Response to Sea-Level Rise, Ecosystem Ecology and Services, Vulnerability and Adaptation, and Advanced Monitoring and Modeling. The systematic synthesis indicates a shift from impact documentation to solution-oriented research focused on nature-based solutions (NbS) and blue carbon finance. However, critical knowledge gaps remain. We propose five future research directions: (1) artificial intelligence (AI)-driven wetland and advanced geospatial technologies for predictive management; (2) optimized design and scalability of NbS; (3) blue carbon market integrity and social equity; (4) adaptive governance development for social-ecological systems; and (5) urgent address of ethical and legal dimensions of adaptation. This review offers a seminal reference for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, providing a holistic approach to enhancing the resilience and conservation of these ecosystems in an era of unprecedented global change.