Spatio-temporal analysis of forest modeling in Mexico

Abstract

There is a consensus that anthropogenic actions are degrading ecosystems at an alarming rate. Modeling and new technologies, such as information and communications technology (ICT), are increasingly being used to make decisions about the management and conservation of natural resources. In this study, the temporal evolution and spatial distribution of Mexican scientific production in forest modeling are analyzed. From 1980 to 2015, 454 authors participated in the publication of 259 papers in 37 journals (84 % of them Mexican), of which 28 are indexed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). Studies on forest management have been the most important but are losing relative weight, while those on environmental services and potential distribution of species are gaining importance. The authors belong to 89 institutions, of which 65 % are Mexican. During the period analyzed, the number of authors (and partnerships) increased 12 times, while the number of publications increased nine times. These increases coincide with the evolution of regulatory policies and the establishment and support of the National System of Researchers. Collaborations in the current forest-modeling network still have great growth potential.