Abstract

NEGER, C.; MANZO DELGADO, L. de L.  and  GALICIA SARMIENTO, L.. Geographical research on forest fires in Mexico: a bibliometric and territorial perspective. Invest. Geog [online]. 2022, n.108, e60488.  Epub Sep 12, 2022. ISSN 2448-7279.  https://doi.org/10.14350/rig.60488.

Forest fires are a phenomenon that impacts the environment and society. They cause severe adverse effects but also play a role in the natural dynamics of ecosystems. Mexico has a significant incidence of forest fires, with an annual average of more than 400 thousand hectares of burned natural vegetation in recent years. The complex merge of social and environmental causes and effects, and their implications in the territory, make forest fires an ideal topic of study from a geographic perspective. The objective of this work was to analyze the approaches, findings, and research opportunities of Geography regarding the territorial dynamics of forest fires in Mexico. This analysis comprised (1) the compilation of advances in geographic studies on the subject, (2) the discussion of the results of these studies and their relevance, and (3) the identification of challenges and opportunities for future research in this field through a geographic approach.

The methodology consisted of a literature review guided by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) concept. The SALSA (Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Analysis) approach was used to search for information, working with data from the Scopus platform. We considered papers published in geographic journals authored by researchers working in geographic institutions. The selected publications were processed through a bibliometric analysis and content review. The first includes data visualization using graphs, maps created in ArcGIS, and diagrams of scientific collaboration networks developed in the Gephi program.

We identified 41 papers published from 1983 to June 2021. The number of publications has increased in recent years. An increasingly interdisciplinary dynamic is also noted, with publications by academics from other disciplines in geographic journals and articles by geographers jointly with other researchers in non-specialized journals. The disciplines with the largest collaborations are Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Biology, Forest Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, and Mathematics. This research topic has had an outstanding international orientation, involving scientists from ten countries. Studies have been conducted throughout the country, particularly in central Mexico and the northwest area (Baja California and Sonora). The field most investigated is geospatial analysis (51.3 %), followed by Physical Geography (36.6 %). Meanwhile, Human Geography has been scarcely addressed to date. Analyzing the co-authorship and citation networks, a lack of integration of geographic studies on forest fires in Mexico is observed, especially between studies on Physical and Human Geography.

Geospatial analysis studies have focused mainly on identifying affected areas and hazard modeling using geographic information systems and remote sensing. Additionally, some studies have estimated fire emissions. The primary focus of Physical Geography studies has been the research of fire regimes, mainly using dendrochronological methods. Few studies have also dealt with the effects of fires on the soil and the assessment of forest fuels. Works related to Human Geography have addressed the role of rural communities in fire management, particularly from local case studies.

In conclusion, despite the limited number of geographic studies published in peer-reviewed journals, there are significant contributions and growing interest in this discipline. It is recommended to strengthen geographic studies in this area, consolidate the existing lines of research, and add new approaches through which Geography can make a valuable contribution. Investigating the role of fires in air pollution in large cities, hazard modeling at regional and local levels, the effects of climate change, and the spread of invasive plants is essential. Finally, Geography can make a greater contribution to fire management by leveraging recent advances in this discipline on topics including governance and risk management.

Keywords : forest fires; fire management; socio-environmental risks; conservation; bibliometric network analysis.

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