# Advancements, Dynamics, and Future Directions in Rural Environmental Governance Research in China
###### Abstract
These challenges are increasingly manifesting as a multifaceted and interrelated amalgamation of diverse pollutants. They also underscore the existing practical limitations of rural environmental governance methods, singular approaches, and antiquated paradigms [8]. The diverse pollution scenarios not only exert an impact on the physical and mental well-being of the populace, but also contribute to the widening of the urban-rural income gap, significantly impeding the realization of rural revalidation objectives and sustainable rural development. Nevertheless, upon conducting a comprehensive examination of existing theoretical research findings, it becomes evident that the predominant focus has been centered on discussions concerning governance strategies and methodologies. Regrettably, there remains a significant gap in providing an overarching synthesis of Chinese REM. Furthermore, a distinct paucity of systematic research and critical analysis pertains to the modernization of rural environmental governance systems. Environmental governance has been the subject of study for only a handful of scholars in their academic pursuits or literature reviews, and their research predominantly belongs to a bygone era. The prevalent research methodologies employed have leaned towards qualitative analyses, culminating in subjectivity in the evaluation outcomes, which lack substantial data substantiation. Remarkably, no researchers have harnessed bibliometric approaches to dissect the historical backdrop and contemporary status of Chinese REM research. The imperative need to bridge this lacuna in research becomes unequivocally apparent. Thus, amid the current conflict between farmers' aspirations for a better environment and the contradiction of sustainable agricultural development, researching rural environmental governance in China is not only crucial for addressing current environmental issues and enhancing the quality of life and health of rural populations, but also has profound implications for promoting an ecological civilization, achieving sustainable development goals, and responding to global climate change. What has been the progress and trends in China's rural environmental governance over the past 20 years? What are the focal points of research? What is the status of interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborative research? Answering these questions is also the purpose and significance of this study. To stay informed about the latest research developments in the REM field within the country and to offer scholars' novel perspectives, this study involves a bibliometric analysis using tools such as VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and ArcGIS. This analysis explores the literature from the CNKI and WOS databases spanning the last two decades in the REM domain. Through this approach, this paper delineates research trends, categorizes key research topics and hotspots, and assesses the advancements in China's REM. Suchinsights are instrumental in driving the modern transformation of rural environmental governance and in fostering comprehensive rural revitalization, aiming to influence future scholarly inquiry and practical applications in this field. The novelty of this study lies in two primary areas: first, it adopts a China-centric research perspective, thereby broadening the investigative scope concerning rural environmental governance; second, it leverages tools like VOS viewer and Bibliometrix for a foundational literature analysis and further utilizes ArcGIS to innovatively conjecture based on institutional address analysis.