This paper proposes a thematic literature review of advances in the literature on
forest property rights over the first half of this decade. From a methodological point
of view, we exploited a corpus of scientific articles published between 2019 and 2023,
extracted from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. We then performed a co-word
analysis using the Louvain algorithm to reveal thematic clusters. This approach enabled
us to identify seven distinct trends over the past half-decade, each highlighting
specific aspects and geographical diversity of forest property rights, which were
then evaluated using a thematic map. The main findings revealed that (policies, livelihoods
and agroforestry) and (institutions, sustainability and non-timber forest products)
stand out as central and influential themes, which have a significant impact and present
notable advances that have shaped recent discussions and practices. Furthermore, themes
(forest policy and resource management) and (conservation and the rights of indigenous
communities) are well developed, which have a solid research base, offering an in-depth
understanding of the relevant research questions. Conversely, themes (institutional
change and forest conservation) and (deforestation, indigenous rights and community
management) represent emerging themes, which are receiving increasing attention and
are likely to become major of focus. In contrast, (forest governance, community management
and land conflict resolution) which indicates a waning influence in terms of miscellaneous
implications. The findings of this thematic literature review will help guide policymakers,
researchers, and practitioners based on recent developments in international forest
property rights, during a half-decade marked by a break with previous trends, leading
to legislative changes and strategic adaptations essential for the sustainable management
of forest resources, bolstered by technological advancements and environmental efforts.
