A bibliometric and systematic assessment of land use/cover change research on freshwater catchments: Trends from the past decade (2014–2024)

• Land use and cover change research on freshwater catchments continues to expand. • Studies shift from descriptive analysis to predictive modeling approaches. • The Global South is underrepresented in research output. • Socioeconomic factors receive little focus compared to biophysical considerations. Freshwater catchments are integral to the Earth’s hydrological and ecological networks, supporting biodiversity and delivering critical ecosystem goods and services. However, these systems face escalating anthropogenic pressures, particularly from land use and cover changes, which threaten their structural integrity and functional capacity. Despite increasing scientific interest, a global body of research that captures long-term trends specific to freshwater systems remains limited. To address this, a bibliometric-systematic literature review was conducted with 688 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus and Web of Science, published between 2014 and 2024. The study revealed an average annual growth rate of 9.72 % in publications, with China contributing 42.3 % and the United States contributing 10.8 % to the total research output. Three dominant research themes were identified: land use–water quality interactions, climate change–hydrological responses, and urbanization–ecosystem service trade-offs. A methodological evolution was also noted, shifting from descriptive studies towards advanced predictive modeling. International collaborations accounted for 16.13 %, yet significant geographical disparities persist, with the Global South remaining underrepresented. This study highlights the need to expand research in underrepresented regions, promote standardized assessment protocols for better comparability, and advance interdisciplinary approaches that integrate ecological and social dimensions. Incorporating emerging techniques, such as machine learning, is also recommended to enhance methodological innovation. These findings offer a strong evidence base to support future research and policies for sustainable freshwater catchment management amidst the growing environmental challenges.