This review summarizes the identification and characterization of cellulolytic aerobic bacteria isolated from agricultural and forest soils over the past 11 years. Lignocellulose, composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, constitutes 60% of Earth's biomass and plays a critical role in the carbon cycle. Cellulose, a major component of plant cell walls, is degraded by cellulolytic microorganisms, primarily bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, which produce cellulases. These enzymes, including endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and β-glucosidases, are essential for breaking down cellulose into glucose, which is vital for carbon cycling and biodegradation. Cellulolytic bacteria are identified through their ability to hydrolyze cellulose, often assessed using artificial cellulose media and dyes like Congo red. However, the hydrolysis capacity of bacteria may not always correlate with their cellulase production. Key cellulase families, such as GH48, are crucial for degrading crystalline cellulose, while others like GH5 and GH9 may not effectively break down crystalline cellulose. Accurate identification of cellulolytic bacteria requires genomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic analyses. In forest soils, dominant genera include Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Streptomyces, while agricultural soils are dominated by Bacillus, Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, and Arthrobacter. These bacteria play a vital role in soil formation and carbon cycling, with their activity influenced by environmental factors such as pH, temperature, and organic matter content. Studies have shown that cellulolytic bacteria in forest soils can degrade up to 30% cellulose in leaf litter, while agricultural soils produce approximately 998 million tons of lignocellulosic waste annually. Cellulases have diverse applications beyond biodegradation, including healthcare, food, textiles, and biotechnology. However, the effectiveness of cellulolytic bacteria in degrading cellulose is often limited by the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass. Advances in genomic and proteomic technologies are essential for understanding cellulolytic mechanisms and identifying novel strains with enhanced cellulase production. Future research should focus on improving the efficiency of cellulolytic bacteria in degrading lignocellulosic materials, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and environmental conservation.This review summarizes the identification and characterization of cellulolytic aerobic bacteria isolated from agricultural and forest soils over the past 11 years. Lignocellulose, composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, constitutes 60% of Earth's biomass and plays a critical role in the carbon cycle. Cellulose, a major component of plant cell walls, is degraded by cellulolytic microorganisms, primarily bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, which produce cellulases. These enzymes, including endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and β-glucosidases, are essential for breaking down cellulose into glucose, which is vital for carbon cycling and biodegradation. Cellulolytic bacteria are identified through their ability to hydrolyze cellulose, often assessed using artificial cellulose media and dyes like Congo red. However, the hydrolysis capacity of bacteria may not always correlate with their cellulase production. Key cellulase families, such as GH48, are crucial for degrading crystalline cellulose, while others like GH5 and GH9 may not effectively break down crystalline cellulose. Accurate identification of cellulolytic bacteria requires genomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic analyses. In forest soils, dominant genera include Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Streptomyces, while agricultural soils are dominated by Bacillus, Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, and Arthrobacter. These bacteria play a vital role in soil formation and carbon cycling, with their activity influenced by environmental factors such as pH, temperature, and organic matter content. Studies have shown that cellulolytic bacteria in forest soils can degrade up to 30% cellulose in leaf litter, while agricultural soils produce approximately 998 million tons of lignocellulosic waste annually. Cellulases have diverse applications beyond biodegradation, including healthcare, food, textiles, and biotechnology. However, the effectiveness of cellulolytic bacteria in degrading cellulose is often limited by the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass. Advances in genomic and proteomic technologies are essential for understanding cellulolytic mechanisms and identifying novel strains with enhanced cellulase production. Future research should focus on improving the efficiency of cellulolytic bacteria in degrading lignocellulosic materials, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and environmental conservation.