A review of the use of remote sensing for monitoring and quantifying carbon sequestration in marginal lands

Abstract. In recent years, Remote Sensing (RS) and its derived products have been used as a key tool for the detection, monitoring, management and future use of Marginal Lands (ML). Currently, there is no single, universally accepted definition of the term and there is a wide variety of synonyms. In this paper, we conduct a compilation of synonyms and meanings that encompass the term, as well as propose a definition. To reach this objective, an overview of the state of the art of ML is done, visualising trends by science maps, based on bibliographic data of established research journals, found in Google Scholar, Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus search engines. The bibliographic review carried out shows that the study of ML has traditionally been carried out with an ad hoc basis focused on the objective to be achieved, this aspect and other knowledge gaps are discussed to analyse the global study of ML. Due to the broad spectrum of uses in which ML have been studied, the work has been focused on RS for monitoring and characterizing ML, focusing on two different aspects: (i) satellite monitoring of marginal lands; and (ii) determining carbon sequestration potential of marginal lands using remote sensing