Ecosystem Services Linked to Extensive Sheep and Goat Farming in Mountain Areas: A Global Literature Analysis Using Text Mining and Topic Analysis

Abstract

This study investigates the ecosystem services (ES) associated with extensive sheep and goat farming in mountainous regions using advanced text mining (TM) and topic analysis (TA) methodologies. Mountain ecosystems are ecologically and socio-economically significant yet face challenges such as rural abandonment and climate change. The analysis of 135 scientific publications from 2009 to 2024 highlights the vital role of small ruminant farming in preserving biodiversity, maintaining cultural heritage, and providing sustainable livelihoods. Results identify eight key themes: ecosystem conservation; grazing effects on biodiversity; dimensions of sustainability; climate; people engagement; grazing and soil; transhumance; policies; and strategies. Findings underscore that small ruminant farming not only supports provisioning, regulating, and cultural services but also reveals ecosystem disservices (EDS) like soil erosion and biodiversity loss under poor management. Effective governance and adaptive management are crucial in integrating tools such as payment for ecosystem services (PES), certification systems, and advanced technologies. This study highlights knowledge gaps, including limited research on EDS and the need for standardised frameworks to assess ES. Future research should prioritise innovative technologies, region-specific grazing practices, and participatory governance to enhance the sustainability of these systems.