Twenty-Five Years of Scientific Production on Geoparks from the Perspective of Bibliometric Analysis Using PRISMA

Judith Nyulas, Ștefan Dezsi (), Adrian-Florin Niță, Zsolt Magyari-Sáska, Marie-Luise Frey and Alpár Horváth
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Judith Nyulas: Faculty of Geography, Doctoral School of Geography, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ștefan Dezsi: Department of Human Geography and Tourism, Faculty of Geography, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Adrian-Florin Niță: Faculty of Geography, Gheorgheni University Extension, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Zsolt Magyari-Sáska: Faculty of Geography, Gheorgheni University Extension, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Marie-Luise Frey: Global Geoparks Network Executive Board and Terra Outreach, Ooserstr. 21, Gerolstein/Vulkaneifel, 54568 Daun, Germany
Alpár Horváth: Faculty of Geography, Gheorgheni University Extension, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-30

Abstract: Over the last 25 years, research on geoparks has moved from basic research to comprehensive multidisciplinary studies related to the creation and development of geoparks, integrating the principle of sustainability. This research focuses on exploring geoparks as the core subject. The aim of this study is to synthesize the heterogeneous body of knowledge about geoparks in an exhaustive way by leveraging a multi-database bibliometric approach. The methodology applied is based on quantitative bibliometric analysis using R, including its application for non-coders and ensuring reliability with the PRISMA Statement framework. Ten databases were taken as the sources of research papers: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Nature Journals, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis , Wiley Journals, IEEE Xplore, and CABI. The method we used has limitations, providing a restricted number of trends aligned and scaled to the database boundary conditions used in analysis. The main goals of quantitative bibliometric analysis are as follows: (1) The impact of data integration—Evaluating how merging the data from the ten databases improves research coverage. (2) Global research trends—Identifying the evolution of geopark-related studies over time. (3) Three-year forecast—Predicting the upcoming research directions using a polynomial regression model. (4) Academic performance—Assessing geographical distribution, citation impact, and productivity using bibliometric laws. (5) Conceptual contribution—Identifying the key research themes that drive future studies and potential areas for exploration. Among these, we highlighted the key elements. The integration of the ten databases provides 63% greater insight into scientific research compared to that of the Web of Science (WoS) database. Geographically, the scientific output spans 102 countries, with China leading in production over the last two decades. The most impactful paper has accumulated 768 citations, while Ruben D.A. and Wu Fandong emerge as the most prolific authors. According to the bibliometric law, the core source of scientific output is Geoheritage. The future research directions are expected to address global challenges, particularly natural disasters in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, GIS-based subtopics leveraging advanced technologies for analyzing, mapping, and promoting geological resources represent a promising area for further exploration. The projections indicate that by the end of 2026, scientific production in this field could reach 5226 published papers, underscoring the growing significance of geopark research and interdisciplinary advancements.

Keywords: geopark; UNESCO geoparks; Bibliometrix; PRISMA; screening method; bibliometric analysis; quantitative analysis; scientific performance; future forecast; core sources; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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