Future Scenarios of Forest Carbon Sink in a Typical Subtropical County

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The current investigation entitled “Future Scenario Simulations of Forest carbon sink in a Typical Subtropical Count” authored by Gong et al. evaluates the forest carbon sink capacity in Zixi County, a subtropical region, under varying climate scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). The findings highlight the need for strategic forest management, prioritizing species with higher carbon sequestration potential and considering spatial heterogeneity.

Comment/Suggestions

Line 4: the DNDC abbreviation need to be mentioned.

Line 8. What is the significance level?

Abstract section is well written; however, I suggest authors to kindly add quantitative data or findings of the current investigation for better clarity to the readers.

Kindly follow the similar citation pattern throughout the manuscript. For instance, in the whole manuscript, the author have adopted the numeric number citation; however at some points name and year citation are provided e. g. line 20.

Line 24 CO₂ make the changes throughout the manuscript.

Line 33, the abbreviation first need to be described and then subsequently can be used throughout the manuscript. E. g. DNDC line 35 PnET

 Introduction section provide a good background information about the topic; however, it needed to be extended for better clarity to the readers. The research gap along with detailed information about the previous liuterature conducted in this domain at the global and regional level need to be discussed. The specific objective of the current investigation need to be furnished.

Figure 3 and 4 can be combine into 1 as figure 3a and 3b.

The title of figures and tables need to be revised as just writing two words for instance in figure 5 does not reflect the appropriate importance of figure. Moreover, the figures and tables should, be stand alone and should contain all the details for instance the abbreviations description in footnotes.

In figure 2, the detail about the different trees species should be indicated at least in the supplementary files.
Some of the figures can be  combined such as figure 10 and 11 and so on. 13 and 14. 17 and 18.

The result section need to be concise. Some of the figures need to be merged and other should be shifted to the supplementary files for better presentation of the results.

The writing style need to revised e. g. line 318 and 323 statement should be revised appropriately.

Discussion: The discussion section need to be further enhanced in the view of the recent literature which is missing in the current stage. A separate conclusion section should be provided with concise constructive statement and limitation and way forwards.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor edilish language edits need to be done 

Author Response

Response to the comments of Reviewer 1

 

Dear Reviewer 1, thank you very much for the thorough and constructive feedback. We have carefully revised the manuscript in accordance with your suggestions. Key revisions include addressing all abbreviations, adding quantitative data to the abstract, ensuring consistent citation formats, and refining figure titles and captions for clarity. We have also expanded the Introduction and Discussion sections with additional literature and research objectives. Furthermore, we have made the Results section more concise, combined certain figures, and provided a separate Conclusion section. We greatly appreciate your thoughtful comments, which have significantly strengthened the manuscript.

 

Comment 1: Line 4: The DNDC abbreviation needs to be mentioned.
Response 1: Thank you very much for your valuable suggestion. We have revised the manuscript accordingly by including the full form of DNDC(Denitrification-Decomposition) at its first mention.

As well as photosynthesis/evapotranspiration(PnET)

 

Comment 2: Line 8. What is the significance level?
Response 2: Thank you for this insightful comment. In this study, we utilized the Forest-DNDC model alongside a random forest model to simulate forest carbon density under different climate scenarios. The results reported in the abstract are based on model simulations, predicting future carbon sink capacities under varying climate and management conditions. These are deterministic projections rather than empirical data subject to statistical sampling, which is why significance testing was not applied.

Our focus is on the long-term trends and the differences between scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5), which are pronounced enough to inform forest management strategies. As the model outputs are deterministic for each scenario, we did not find additional statistical significance testing necessary.

 

Comment 3: The abstract section is well written; however, I suggest authors kindly add quantitative data or findings of the current investigation for better clarity to the readers.
Response 3: Thank you for your positive feedback on the abstract. In response to your suggestion, we have now included key quantitative results to enhance clarity.
In our new abstract:

“Results indicate that under the Baseline scenario, forest carbon density in Zixi County increases by 31% over 42 years under the SSP2-4.5 climate scenario and by 28.6% under SSP5-8.5. In the Enhancing Economic scenario, carbon density increases by 8.5% under SSP2-4.5 and by 7.2% under SSP5-8.5. For the Natural Development scenario, a significant increase of 130% is observed under SSP2-4.5, while SSP5-8.5 shows an increase of 120%. Spatially, forest carbon sinks in Zixi County total 843,152 T C in 2020, 542,852 T C in 2030, and 877,802 T C in 2060 under the Baseline SSP2-4.5 scenario; under SSP5-8.5, these values are 841,321 T C in 2020, 531,301 T C in 2030, and 1,016,402 T C in 2060. In the Enhancing Economic scenario, the total carbon sink is 34,650 T C in both 2020 and 2030, increasing to 427,351 T C in 2060 under SSP2-4.5, while under SSP5-8.5, it is 46,200 T C in 2020, 34,650 T C in 2030, and 415,801 T C in 2060. The Natural Development scenario shows the total carbon sink under SSP2-4.5 as 11,157,332 T C in 2020, 3,441,910 T C in 2030, and 1,409,104 T C in 2060, and under SSP5-8.5, it is 10,903,231 T C in 2020, 3,337,960 T C in 2030, and 1,131,903 T C in 2060.”

Additionally, we have highlighted the novel aspects of our research in section of introduction , such as the use of high-resolution climate data, the application of the Forest-DNDC model in a subtropical context, and the integration of spatial heterogeneity into forest management strategies, which sets our study apart from previous research.

“The primary objective of this study is to quantify the carbon sink potential of subtropical forests in Zixi County, leveraging the Forest-DNDC model under various climate scenarios, specifically SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. This analysis seeks to address a significant research gap by elucidating the contributions of small-scale regions to China's carbon neutrality goals. Focusing on Zixi County, a representative subtropical area, the study utilizes high-precision climate data processed by the HASM(High-Accuracy Surface Modeling) method\cite{ref16,ref17} and employs Forest DNDC model and random forest model to achieve accurate predictions of forest carbon sink capacity under different management strategies. Through detailed scenario simulations, our findings underscore the pivotal role that small regions play in the broader carbon neutrality process“

 

Comment 4: Kindly follow the same citation pattern throughout the manuscript. For instance, in the whole manuscript, numeric citations are used, but at some points, name and year citations are provided (e.g., Line 20).
Response 4: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have re-evaluated the citation format to ensure consistency throughout the manuscript.

 

Comment 5: Line 24: CO₂. Make changes throughout the manuscript.
Response 5: Thank you for pointing this out. We have revised all instances of "CO₂" throughout the manuscript accordingly.

 

Comment 6: Line 33: Abbreviations should first be described and then subsequently used throughout the manuscript (e.g., DNDC in Line 35, PnET).
Response 6: We appreciate your suggestion. We have now added the full forms of both DNDC (Denitrification-Decomposition) and PnET (photosynthesis/evapotranspiration) in their first mentions to ensure clarity for readers.

AS well as “LPJ-GUESS(Lund Potsdam Jena General Ecosystem Simulator) “and
”ORCHIDEE(Organizing Carbon and Hydrology in Dynamic Ecosystems)“

 

Comment 7: The Introduction section provides good background information, but it needs to be extended for better clarity. The research gap, along with detailed information on previous literature conducted globally and regionally, needs to be discussed. The specific objectives of the current investigation should also be furnished.
Response 7: Thank you for your constructive feedback on the Introduction. Following your suggestions, we have extended the section in several ways:

1. Expanded Background: We have included additional discussion on global and regional carbon sink management, emphasizing the importance of carbon cycle models in the context of global climate change. Furthermore, we have incorporated more literature specific to subtropical forest carbon sinks, highlighting gaps in existing research.
2. Research Gap: We have clearly outlined the under-researched potential of subtropical regions, particularly at the county level. Unlike boreal and temperate regions, subtropical areas remain understudied in terms of carbon sink capacity, and we emphasize the importance of our study in filling these gaps.
3. Research Objectives: At the end of the introduction, we have specified the key objectives of our study—namely, to simulate and quantify the forest carbon sink capacity of Zixi County under different climate scenarios using the Forest-DNDC model, combined with random forest modeling, to provide accurate predictions and scientific support for carbon neutrality policy development.

 

Comment 8: Figures 3 and 4 can be combined into a single figure (e.g., Figure 3a and 3b).
Response 8: Thank you for the suggestion. We have combined Figures 3 and 4 into a single figure, presented as Figure 3a and 3b, and adjusted the manuscript accordingly.

 

Comment 9: The titles of figures and tables need to be revised. For instance, just writing two words (e.g., in Figure 5) does not reflect the appropriate importance of the figure. Moreover, the figures and tables should stand alone, including details such as abbreviations in the footnotes.
Response 9: Thank you for your helpful suggestion. We have revised the titles of all figures and tables to provide more detailed descriptions that better reflect their importance.

In Figure 5:

“Technology roadmap: The overall technical roadmap is divided into three main modules: the inversion module (on the left), the data preprocessing module (on the right), and the simulation analysis module (at the bottom). The inversion module aims to derive physiological phenological parameters of forest plots using the Forest-DNDC model. The data preprocessing module ensures the reliability of the input parameters used in the model. The simulation analysis module integrates the Forest-DNDC, RF, and HASM models to collaboratively analyze and process the results generated by the models.”

 

Additionally, we have included full descriptions of all abbreviations in the footnotes to ensure the figures and tables are self-explanatory.

New combined Figure captions such as:

• Spatial and Temporal Changes in Forest Carbon Density Under the NDS(Natural Development Scenario)
  
  
• Trends in the Impact of Different Climate Conditions on Forest Carbon Density and Forest Carbon sink Under the NDS(Natural Development Scenario). (a) is the trend of forest carbon density of Natural development scenario, (b) is the trend of forest carbon sequestration of Natural development scenario.

 

Comment 10: In Figure 2, details about the different tree species should be indicated, at least in the supplementary files. Some figures, such as Figures 10 and 11, and Figures 13 and 14, can be combined.
Response 10: We appreciate your suggestion. We have added the necessary details about the tree species in the supplementary files.

New caption of Figure 2:
“Spatial distribution of forest plots: The main forest types in Zixi County include bamboo forests, fir forests, pine forests, and other forests. Bamboo forests are predominantly located in the western-central part of Zixi County, covering a significant area. Fir forests are distributed around Zixi County but do not form extensive stands. Pine forests are found in smaller areas in the eastern part of Zixi County. Other forests include local tea trees, fruit trees, and other vegetation types.”

Additionally, we have combined the relevant figures as recommended to streamline the presentation of results.

Some figures we have redesigned:

• Figure7 and Figure8 are combined to new Figure 6, that caption is Trends in the Impact of Different Climate Conditions on Forest Carbon Density and Forest Carbon sink Under the BS(Baseline Scenario). (a) is the trend of forest carbon density of Baseline scenario, (b) is the trend of forest carbon sequestration of Baseline scenario.
• Figure10 and Figure11 are combined to new Figure 8, that caption is Trends in the Impact of Different Climate Conditions on Forest Carbon Density and Forest Carbon sink Under the EES(Enhancing Economic Scenario). (a) is the trend of forest carbon density of Enhancing economic scenario, (b) is the trend of forest carbon sequestration of Enhancing economic scenario.
• Figure13 and Figure14 are combined to new Figure 10, that caption is Trends in the Impact of Different Climate Conditions on Forest Carbon Density and Forest Carbon sink Under the NDS(Natural Development Scenario). (a) is the trend of forest carbon density of Natural development scenario, (b) is the trend of forest carbon sequestration of Natural development scenario.
• Figure15 and Figure16 are combined to new Figure 11, that caption is Trends in the Impact of Different Climate Conditions on Forest Carbon Density and Forest Carbon Sink Under the Different Scenario. (a) The overall trend of forest historical carbon density and future carbon density under different scenarios in Zixi County. (b) The overall trend of future carbon sink of forests in Zixi County.
• Figure17 and Figure18 are combined to new Figure 12, that caption is Sensitivity of Forest Carbon Density and Forest Carbon Sink to Different Climatic Conditions Under the Same Scenario. (a) Sensitivity of forest carbon density to climate change under different scenarios in Zixi County. (b) Sensitivity of forest carbon sinks to climate change under different scenarios in Zixi County.

 

Comment 11: The Results section needs to be more concise. Some figures should be merged, and others should be shifted to the supplementary files for better presentation of the results.
Response 11: Thank you for your suggestion. We have made the Results section more concise by merging figures where possible (as noted in response to Comment 10) and relocating some figures to the supplementary files for improved clarity and presentation.

 

Comment 12: The writing style needs to be revised (e.g., Lines 318 and 323). The statements should be revised appropriately.
Response 12: Thank you for your feedback. We have revised the writing style in the indicated lines and made similar revisions in other sections where paragraphs began with "Figure xx" to enhance readability and flow.

Such as:

Before: “Figure 16 shows…”

Now: “…in Figure 11 (b)”

 

Comment 13: Discussion: The Discussion section needs to be further enhanced in view of recent literature, which is missing in the current version. A separate Conclusion section should be provided with concise, constructive statements, along with limitations and future directions.
Response 13: Thank you for your valuable comments. We have now separated the Discussion and Conclusion sections as suggested. The Discussion section has been enhanced with recent relevant literature, and we have provided a concise Conclusion section, including limitations of the study and potential directions for future research.

In Discussion:

“…. These findings are consistent with global carbon cycle models, …[29-31]. Similar conclusions… in South America[32], …”

“…, likely due to bamboo's rapid growth cycle but lower long-term carbon storage capacity. This observation aligns with findings from similar studies on bamboo forest ecosystems[33]”

“…. Studies from regions with similar forest types, emphasize the need for adaptive management strategies to mitigate these challenges[34,35].”

“Zixi County's forests..., though..., a pattern consistent with global research on forest vulnerability to climate impacts[36]. While..., long-term strategies have the potential to stabilize these effects[37].”

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article is devoted to the current and important question of forest carbon sink. The authors simulate the carbon density of subtropical forests in Zixi County under different management strategies and different climate scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). Modern methods and approaches were used. The authors conducted a comprehensive study for a small region of China. In my opinion, it is worth emphasizing its significance for the global scientific community.

Title

The title corresponds to the content.

Abstract

I recommend that the authors emphasize the novelty of the study and add more quantitative results.

Introduction

The introduction does not contain all the background information, and the authors should also correct the references (line 17, 19, 20 and other). I recommend that authors clearly state the purpose and objectives of the research, and it is also worth briefly mentioning what other methods are used to simulate carbon cycling and greenhouse gas emissions. Have similar studies been conducted for other regions?

Materials and Methods

The methodology is not presented in sufficient detail. In my opinion, the climate scenarios should be described in a little more detail, perhaps in the form of a table. The study area (Figure 1) should be presented at least on a map of China, so that it would be more understandable for foreign researchers. I recommend that the authors provide a brief description of the forest and soil types. The soil taxonomy should be given according to the international classification, for example, WRB or USDA soil taxonomy. It may be worthwhile to provide a study outline for greater clarity.

Results

The results are presented clearly, understandably enough and are illustrated with 13 figures. I recommend that authors provide explanation of the notations, for example, BS. It would be better to put the mention of Figure 8 before the figure itself.

Discussion

In my opinion, the discussion is presented briefly and needs editing. Perhaps it would be worth writing what was studied for the first time, in which countries similar studies were conducted, how the obtained results differ from others, what is the novelty and significance of the research for the global scientific community.

Conclusions

This section is not highlighted separately. I recommend correcting this and writing a conclusion based on the results.

Author Response

Response to the comments of Reviewer 2

 

Dear Reviewer 2, thank you very much for the insightful and constructive feedback. We have carefully addressed all the suggestions and made substantial revisions to improve the quality and clarity of the manuscript. Key improvements include refining the title for better alignment with the content, enhancing the abstract with quantitative results, expanding the background and methodology sections, and adding clearer explanations of the figures and notations. We have also thoroughly revised the discussion and provided a separate conclusion section to summarize the key findings. We deeply appreciate your valuable comments, which have greatly strengthened the manuscript.

 

Comment 1: Title: The title corresponds to the content.
Response 1: Thank you very much for your suggestion. To better align the title with the content, we have reconsidered the title of the paper. The new title is

"Future Scenarios of Forest Carbon Sink in a Typical Subtropical County."

 

Comment 2: Abstract: I recommend that the authors emphasize the novelty of the study and add more quantitative results.
Response 2: Thank you for your valuable feedback. In response to your suggestion, we have highlighted the novelty of our study by adding specific quantitative findings related to the increase in carbon density under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. Additionally, we have emphasized the impact of elevation and forest types on carbon accumulation. These updates aim to provide greater clarity and precision in presenting our results.

“Results indicate that under the Baseline scenario, forest carbon density in Zixi County increases by 31% over 42 years under the SSP2-4.5 climate scenario and by 28.6% under SSP5-8.5. In the Enhancing Economic scenario, carbon density increases by 8.5% under SSP2-4.5 and by 7.2% under SSP5-8.5. For the Natural Development scenario, a significant increase of 130% is observed under SSP2-4.5, while SSP5-8.5 shows an increase of 120%. Spatially, forest carbon sinks in Zixi County total 843,152 T C in 2020, 542,852 T C in 2030, and 877,802 T C in 2060 under the Baseline SSP2-4.5 scenario; under SSP5-8.5, these values are 841,321 T C in 2020, 531,301 T C in 2030, and 1,016,402 T C in 2060. In the Enhancing Economic scenario, the total carbon sink is 34,650 T C in both 2020 and 2030, increasing to 427,351 T C in 2060 under SSP2-4.5, while under SSP5-8.5, it is 46,200 T C in 2020, 34,650 T C in 2030, and 415,801 T C in 2060. The Natural Development scenario shows the total carbon sink under SSP2-4.5 as 11,157,332 T C in 2020, 3,441,910 T C in 2030, and 1,409,104 T C in 2060, and under SSP5-8.5, it is 10,903,231 T C in 2020, 3,337,960 T C in 2030, and 1,131,903 T C in 2060.”

 

Comment 3: Introduction: The introduction does not contain all the background information, and the authors should also correct the references (lines 17, 19, 20, and others). I recommend that authors clearly state the purpose and objectives of the research, and it is also worth briefly mentioning what other methods are used to simulate carbon cycling and greenhouse gas emissions. Have similar studies been conducted for other regions?
Response 3: Thank you for your valuable suggestions. In response, we have made the following revisions to the Introduction section:

1. Expanded Background Information: We have extended the discussion of carbon cycling and greenhouse gas emission simulation methods, including widely-used models such as CENTURY, Biome-BGC, and LPJ. We have elaborated on the strengths and limitations of each model, while emphasizing the suitability and innovation of the Forest-DNDC model in this context.
2. Corrections to References: We have carefully reviewed and corrected all citation formats to ensure compliance with referencing standards, particularly addressing the issues in lines 17, 19, and 20.
3. Clear Research Objectives: We have clearly stated the specific research objectives at the end of the introduction, namely to quantify the forest carbon sink potential of Zixi County under different climate scenarios using the Forest-DNDC model, thereby addressing the gap in small-scale regional carbon sink management research.
4. Discussion of Similar Studies: We have included additional discussion of similar studies conducted in other regions, particularly in boreal and temperate zones (e.g., Scandinavia and North America), while highlighting the relative scarcity of long-term carbon sink analyses in subtropical regions.

 

Comment 4: Materials and Methods: The methodology is not presented in sufficient detail. In my opinion, the climate scenarios should be described in a little more detail, perhaps in the form of a table. The study area (Figure 1) should be presented at least on a map of China, so that it would be more understandable for foreign researchers. I recommend that the authors provide a brief description of the forest and soil types. The soil taxonomy should be given according to the international classification, for example, WRB or USDA soil taxonomy. It may be worthwhile to provide a study outline for greater clarity.
Response 4: Thank you for your thoughtful suggestions. We have made the following revisions to the Materials and Methods section:

• We have provided a more detailed description of the climate scenarios used in the study, now presented in the form of a table for greater clarity.
• Figure 1 has been redesigned to show the study area’s location within China, making it easier for foreign researchers to understand the geographical context.
• A brief description of the forest and soil types has been added, with forest types represented in new Figure 2 caption:
  Figure 2: “Spatial distribution of forest plots: \added[author=wg]{The main forest types in Zixi County include bamboo forests, fir forests, pine forests, and other forests. Bamboo forests are predominantly located in the western-central part of Zixi County, covering a significant area. Fir forests are distributed around Zixi County but do not form extensive stands. Pine forests are found in smaller areas in the eastern part of Zixi County. Other forests include local tea trees, fruit trees, and other vegetation types.”
  
  For the soil types, we have revised the text to include their classification based on the local soil survey method used by Zixi County's forestry bureau.
  “There is a small amount of yellow soil in the eastern high-altitude area of Zixi County, and a small amount of paddy soil in the low-altitude area in the west. Most of the remaining soil types are dominated by red soil. The soil classification in this study follows the method used in Zixi County, Jiangxi Province.”

 

Comment 5: Results: The results are presented clearly, with 13 figures illustrating the findings. I recommend that the authors provide explanations of the notations, for example, BS. It would be better to place the mention of Figure 8 before the figure itself.
Response 5: Thank you for your recognition and helpful suggestions. We have added explanations for all abbreviations used in the figures, including "BS" and others, to ensure clarity. Additionally, we have combined the relevant figures to streamline the presentation of results.
Such as new figure caption:

“Trends in the Impact of Different Climate Conditions on Forest Carbon Density and Forest Carbon sink Under the BS (Baseline Scenario). (a) is the trend of forest carbon density of Baseline scenario, (b) is the trend of forest carbon sequestration of Baseline scenario.”

While we have attempted to place figures immediately after they are mentioned in the text, in some instances, figures appear before their mention to avoid excessive blank spaces and maintain the flow of the article.

 

Comment 6: Discussion: In my opinion, the discussion is presented briefly and needs editing. Perhaps it would be worth noting what was studied for the first time, in which countries similar studies were conducted, how the obtained results differ from others, and what is the novelty and significance of the research for the global scientific community.
Response 6: Thank you for your insightful suggestions. We have expanded the Discussion section to include a more detailed comparison with similar studies conducted in other countries. We have also highlighted how our findings differ from previous research, emphasizing the unique contribution of our study, especially in the subtropical region. The novelty and significance of our research for the global scientific community, particularly its potential to inform carbon sink management strategies in similar regions, have been further elaborated.

In our discussion section:

“…. These findings are consistent with global carbon cycle models, …[29-31]. Similar conclusions… in South America[32], …”

“…, likely due to bamboo's rapid growth cycle but lower long-term carbon storage capacity. This observation aligns with findings from similar studies on bamboo forest ecosystems[33]”

“…. Studies from regions with similar forest types, emphasize the need for adaptive management strategies to mitigate these challenges[34,35].”

“Zixi County's forests..., though..., a pattern consistent with global research on forest vulnerability to climate impacts[36]. While..., long-term strategies have the potential to stabilize these effects[37].”

 

 

Comment 7: Conclusions: This section is not highlighted separately. I recommend correcting this and writing a conclusion based on the results.
Response 7: Thank you for your recommendation. We have now separated the Conclusion section from the Discussion, and provided a clear and concise summary of the study's findings. The conclusions are based on our results and offer constructive insights into the implications of our research for future studies and forest management policies.

We added section of conclusions:

This study underscores the pivotal role that both forest management and climate scenarios play in determining carbon sequestration in Zixi County. While moderate climate pathways such as SSP2-4.5 show significant promise for enhancing carbon storage, more extreme scenarios present considerable risks to the long-term stability of carbon density. Management strategies that prioritize high-carbon-density species and account for elevation gradients are critical to maximizing sequestration potential. Under the natural development scenario, even if the forest carbon density increases year by year, its carbon sink function is actually weakening, and suitable forest management measures can more effectively resist the adverse effects of climate change on forest carbon sink function.

Nevertheless, some limitations remain. The current research does not fully address the role of soil microbial communities and nutrient cycling in shaping carbon dynamics, particularly under extreme climate scenarios—a subject that warrants further investigation. Moreover, while this study focuses on Zixi County, the findings hold broader relevance for subtropical regions with similar forest ecosystems.

Future research should focus on refining management strategies to account for the spatial heterogeneity of forest carbon density and investigating the long-term impacts of climate change on soil carbon dynamics. Ultimately, coordinated local actions, such as those outlined for Zixi County, will be essential for achieving both national and global carbon neutrality goals.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In the first round of revision, the authors have made considerable correction in the manuscript; however i recommend some minor correction for overall improvement of manuscript:

Is it really required to provide figure 2; since the dominant tree species points can be provided in the figure 1. So remove figure 2 and provide the relevant information in figure 1. 

in figure 3 clarifies, what 3a and 3b specifically explain for better clarity to the readers.

 

Author Response

Response to the comments of Reviewer 1: Round 2

 

We sincerely appreciate the valuable feedback provided by the reviewer 1 during the second round of revisions. We have carefully considered and addressed all comments, as detailed below.

 

Comments and Suggestions for Authors:

In the first round of revision, the authors have made considerable correction in the manuscript; however i recommend some minor correction for overall improvement of manuscript:

Is it really required to provide figure 2; since the dominant tree species points can be provided in the figure 1. So remove figure 2 and provide the relevant information in figure 1. 

in figure 3 clarifies, what 3a and 3b specifically explain for better clarity to the readers.

 

Comments 1: The reviewer suggested that Figure 2 may not be necessary, as the information regarding dominant tree species could be integrated into Figure 1. The reviewer recommended removing Figure 2 and including the relevant information in Figure 1.

Response 1: Thank you for your insightful suggestion. We agree that the information in Figure 2 can be effectively consolidated into Figure 1 for greater clarity and conciseness. We have revised Figure 1 to incorporate this information and updated its title to:

“Geographical location and spatial distribution of forest plots: (a) and (b) depict Zixi County, located in the southern region of China, within Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province. (c) The primary forest types in Zixi County include bamboo forests, fir forests, pine forests, and various other forest types. Bamboo forests dominate the western-central areas, covering a substantial portion of the landscape. Fir forests are scattered throughout the county, though they do not form large contiguous stands. Pine forests occupy smaller areas in the eastern part of Zixi County. The 'other forests' category includes tea trees, fruit trees, and diverse local vegetation.”

 

Comments 2: The reviewer noted that Figure 3 lacked clarity regarding the specific explanations of (a) and (b).

Response 2: We appreciate the reviewer’s observation regarding the need for clearer descriptions of the temperature and precipitation data in Figure 2(old Figure 3). We have now provided a more detailed analysis of this data. The revised explanation is as follows:

“Comparison of the change trend of historical climatological data (1957-2018) and CMIP6 future climatic data (2019-2060). (a) Black circles represent the historical annual mean temperature data from meteorological stations, while green and red circles indicate the extracted annual mean temperature values under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 climate scenarios, respectively, at those station locations. (b) Black circles denote the historical annual total precipitation data from meteorological stations, with green and red circles representing the extracted annual total precipitation values under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively.”

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors edited the article and responded to my comments and suggestions. The authors have changed the title; now it more accurately reflects the essence of the article. More quantitative data has been added to the abstract, making it more informative. The authors have significantly revised the introduction, adding more necessary background information and discussion of similar studies. The references were corrected and the purpose of the study was more clearly formulated. Necessary clarifications have been added to the methodology. However, the soil taxonomy according to international classifications is not indicated, which complicates soil identification by international researchers. The authors made the necessary corrections to the results. The discussion section has been slightly revised and remains fairly brief. Conclusions follow from the results and are reasonable.

Author Response

Response to the comments of Reviewer 2: Round 2

 

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the insightful comments and suggestions provided by the reviewer 2 during the second round of revisions. We have carefully addressed all feedback, as outlined below.

 

Comments and Suggestions for Authors:

The authors edited the article and responded to my comments and suggestions. The authors have changed the title; now it more accurately reflects the essence of the article. More quantitative data has been added to the abstract, making it more informative. The authors have significantly revised the introduction, adding more necessary background information and discussion of similar studies. The references were corrected and the purpose of the study was more clearly formulated. Necessary clarifications have been added to the methodology. However, the soil taxonomy according to international classifications is not indicated, which complicates soil identification by international researchers. The authors made the necessary corrections to the results. The discussion section has been slightly revised and remains fairly brief. Conclusions follow from the results and are reasonable.

 

Comments 1: The soil taxonomy according to international classifications is not indicated, which complicates soil identification by international researchers.

Response 1: We sincerely apologize for not accurately addressing this aspect in the previous version of the manuscript. In response to your suggestion, we have corrected the soil classification section to clearly indicate that it is based on the "Chinese Soil Classification System" (2001 edition). This modification enhances the accuracy of soil identification and facilitates a better understanding and application of our research findings by international researchers.

 

Comments 2: The discussion section has been slightly revised and remains fairly brief.

Response 2: We sincerely appreciate your feedback on the discussion section. We have taken your suggestions into consideration and expanded the discussion to improve its depth and coherence. The specific enhancements made include:

1. Importance of Medium- and Long-term Climate Strategies: We added insights on the critical role of medium- and long-term climate strategies in enhancing the carbon sink function of forest ecosystems, thereby emphasizing the importance of timely climate management.
2. Impact of Elevation on Plant Growth: We included a supplementary explanation of the relationship between elevation and carbon density in our spatial analysis, highlighting how temperature and humidity at higher altitudes support plant growth.
3. Role of Bamboo in Ecosystems: We expanded on the ecological role of bamboo in carbon sequestration and its potential as a management target, enriching the discussion surrounding bamboo management.
4. Management Strategies for High-Carbon-Density Species: In the management implications section, we emphasized the importance of interventions such as selective thinning and replanting to promote the growth of high-carbon-density species, providing concrete management recommendations.
5. Importance of Adaptive Management: We further stressed the necessity of adaptive management strategies to address challenges faced by similar forest types, thereby offering guidance for future management practices.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf