Zoning and Optimization Strategies of Land Spatial Ecological Restoration in Liangjiang New Area of Chongqing Based on the Supply–Demand Relationship of Ecosystem Services

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Overall Comment

The manuscript provides a well-structured and coherent set of optimization strategies for land spatial ecological restoration based on the supply and demand of ecosystem services. The strategies are informed by relevant planning documents and considerations of ecological, socio-economic, and administrative factors. The proposed approaches demonstrate a comprehensive and practical approach to achieving ecological restoration goals in the Liangjiang New Area. The authors are advised to address following comments to improve the quality of the manuscript

 

Abstract:

1.  Line No.1 change the term "land consolidation" with a better scientific word

2. The citation should be added in the journal format [1] [2] [3]

 

3. The abstract could benefit from providing more specific details about the optimization strategies proposed for each of the restoration zones. This would help readers grasp the practical implications of the study and the potential actions that can be taken to address the supply-demand imbalances. 

 

4. It would be helpful if the abstract briefly mentioned the implications of the study's findings and recommendations. How can these findings be utilized in practice, and what are the potential benefits for ecological restoration and planning efforts in the Liangjiang New Area?

 

Introduction:

1. The description of the Liangjiang New Area and its commitment to ecological civilization system reform and green development is informative and relevant to the overall context. However, it would be beneficial to provide more specific information on the achievements and results of the ecological restoration efforts in the Liangjiang New Area.

 

2. The objectives of the study presented in the last paragraph are clearly stated, and the use of the InVEST model and GIS for computing and predicting the supply and demand of ecosystem services is appropriate. However, it would be helpful to briefly mention the significance or potential implications of the study's findings for future land spatial ecological restoration efforts.

 

Discussion:

1. While discussing the ecosystem services demand and the relationship in between, it is imperative that the authors identify the categories of ecosystem services (e.g. Provisioning, Regulating) and discuss the result accordingly.

The manuscript provides a well-structured and coherent set of optimization strategies for land spatial ecological restoration based on the supply and demand of ecosystem services. The strategies are informed by relevant planning documents and considerations of ecological, socio-economic, and administrative factors. The proposed approaches demonstrate a comprehensive and practical approach to achieving ecological restoration goals in the Liangjiang New Area. The authors are advised to address reviewer comments to improve the quality of the manuscript

Author Response

Point 1: 1.Line No.1 change the term "land consolidation" with a better scientific word.

Response 1: We sincerely thank the reviewer for careful reading. As suggested by the reviewer, we have corrected the “land consolidation” into “land amalgamation strategy”.

 

Point 2: The citation should be added in the journal format [1] [2] [3]

Response 2: We are very sorry for our careless mistake and the serial numbers have been added in accordance with the journal format.

Point 3: The abstract could benefit from providing more specific details about the optimization strategies proposed for each of the restoration zones. This would help readers grasp the practical implications of the study and the potential actions that can be taken to address the supply-demand imbalances.

Response 3: We think this is an excellent suggestion. We have added more specific details about the optimization strategies proposed for each of the restoration zones, including the exact location where the change can be found in the revised manuscript on lines 21 through 32 of page 1-2.

Point 4: It would be helpful if the abstract briefly mentioned the implications of the study's findings and recommendations. How can these findings be utilized in practice, and what are the potential benefits for ecological restoration and planning efforts in the Liangjiang New Area? 

Response 4: We sincerely appreciate the valuable comments. We have mentioned in the abstract the implications of the study's findings and recommendations, including the exact location where the change can be found in the revised manuscript on lines 32 through 36 of page 2. 

Point 5: Introduction：The description of the Liangjiang New Area and its commitment to ecological civilization system reform and green development is informative and relevant to the overall context. However, it would be beneficial to provide more specific information on the achievements and results of the ecological restoration efforts in the Liangjiang New Area.

Response 5: Thanks for your suggestion. We have provided more specific information on the achievements and results of the ecological restoration efforts in the Liangjiang New Area  in the Introduction, including the exact location where the change can be found in the revised manuscript on lines 132 through 154 of page 6-7.

Point 6: The objectives of the study presented in the last paragraph are clearly stated, and the use of the InVEST model and GIS for computing and predicting the supply and demand of ecosystem services is appropriate. However, it would be helpful to briefly mention the significance or potential implications of the study's findings for future land spatial ecological restoration efforts.

Response 6: We sincerely appreciate the valuable comments. We have briefly mentioned the significance of the study's findings for future land spatial ecological restoration efforts in the Introduction, including the exact location where the change can be found in the revised manuscript on lines 164 through 176 of page 8.

Point 7: Discussion：While discussing the ecosystem services demand and the relationship in between, it is imperative that the authors identify the categories of ecosystem services (e.g. Provisioning, Regulating) and discuss the result accordingly. 

Response 7: We think this is an excellent suggestion. We have identified the categories of ecosystem services and discuss the result accordingly while discussing the ecosystem services demand and relationship in between, including the exact location where the change can be found in the revised manuscript on lines 508 through 513 of page 28.

Reviewer 2 Report

The article is a complete study carried out according to a single algorithm and will be interesting, first of all, to practitioners in the field of ecosystem services assessment and ecosystem restoration. The structure of the article is logical and reflects a three-step approach to research - assessment of supply and demand of ecosystem services, identification of their correlation, development of recommendations. The proposed methods are adequate. The following points of work seem to be the most controversial:

when evaluating the supply of services, the state of ecosystems is not taken into account (obviously, the software package used for the calculation does not imply this, however, taking into account the state of vegetation can significantly affect the volume of the supply of services),

the internal structure of the allocated areas is heterogeneous and, apparently, includes both built-up and green areas - how the boundaries between the zones are drawn should be explained in more detail;

the recommendations are too general, for individual zones it makes sense to indicate quantitative combinations in terms of optimization and restoration measures;

the practical orientation of the article is obvious, but the conclusions should be more clearly indicated - in honor of the contribution of this study to general approaches to ecosystem restoration in urbanized regions

Author Response

Point 1: when evaluating the supply of services, the state of ecosystems is not taken into account (obviously, the software package used for the calculation does not imply this, however, taking into account the state of vegetation can significantly affect the volume of the supply of services). 

Response 1: Thanks for your suggestion. However, the article has taken into account the state of vegetation in the calculation of water production services, soil conservation services, etc. involved in the application of the INVEST model to measure the supply and demand of ecosystem services.

Point 2: the internal structure of the allocated areas is heterogeneous and, apparently, includes both built-up and green areas - how the boundaries between the zones are drawn should be explained in more detail.

Response 2: We sincerely thank the reviewer for careful reading. The boundaries of the districts mentioned in the text are based on the boundaries of the existing streets.

Point 3: the recommendations are too general, for individual zones it makes sense to indicate quantitative combinations in terms of optimization and restoration measures.

Response 3: Thank you very much for your suggestion, this is exactly what we need to work on in the future and we are working on it, you will see this research in our future work.

Point 4: the practical orientation of the article is obvious, but the conclusions should be more clearly indicated - in honor of the contribution of this study to general approaches to ecosystem restoration in urbanized regions

Response 4: We think this is an excellent suggestion. We have added the contribution of this study to general approaches to ecosystem restoration in urbanized regions, including the exact location where the change can be found in the revised manuscript on lines 534 through 540 of page 29.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The manuscript “Land-2410667” This study used a series of methods such as the InVEST model, spatial autocorrelation, and coupling coordination degree models using Liangjiang New Area as an example to quantifiably quantify both regional ecosystem services supply and demand at the county and district levels. Determine the land's spatial ecological restoration zones and present the optimization strategies based on the supply-demand matching and coordination relationship. Overall, the manuscript is well-prepared, and the data and methods are solid. However, there are several issues that require attention in the whole manuscript.

(1) In the Introduction section, the authors' literature review is limited to the Chinese section. As an academic paper in an international journal, the authors need to comprehensively and systematically summarize relevant research on the topic of Land Spatial Ecological Restoration on a global scale.

(2) The shortcomings of existing studies need to be objectively presented. The value of this paper also needs to be clarified in the Introduction section.

(3) In Technical route section, the author needs to add the necessary explanation and elaboration.

(4) In the 2.3 study methods section, the authors are missing the theoretical basis for the spatial determination of ecological restoration of land. In this paper, the authors use the coupled supply and demand coordination degree of ecosystem services to determine the spatial planning strategy of ecological restoration. What is the scientific basis for this operation? The authors need to add further explanation.

(5) In the conclusion section, the authors need to add the research shortcomings of this paper.

(6) It is recommended that all images in the text be replaced with high-resolution ones.

(7) The authors used a large amount of Chinese literature. It is recommended to supplement the literature of relevant international studies.

I would suggest the authors to work on the language and do proofreading.

Author Response

Point 1: In the Introduction section, the authors' literature review is limited to the Chinese section. As an academic paper in an international journal, the authors need to comprehensively and systematically summarize relevant research on the topic of Land Spatial Ecological Restoration on a global scale. 

 

Response 1: We sincerely appreciate the valuable comments. We have added relevant researches on the topic of Land Spatial Ecological Restoration on a global scale, including the exact location where the change can be found in the revised manuscript on lines 68 through 82 of page 4.

 

Point 2: The shortcomings of existing studies need to be objectively presented. The value of this paper also needs to be clarified in the Introduction section.

 

Response 2: We think this is an excellent suggestion. We have added the shortcomings of existing studies and the value of this paper in the Introduction section, including the exact location where the change can be found in the revised manuscript on lines 97 through 113 of page 5-6.

 

Point 3: In Technical route section, the author needs to add the necessary explanation and elaboration.

 

Response 3: Thanks for your suggestion. We have added the necessary explanation and elaboration in Technical route section, including the exact location where the change can be found in the revised manuscript on lines 232 of page 12.

 

Point 4: In the 2.3 study methods section, the authors are missing the theoretical basis for the spatial determination of ecological restoration of land. In this paper, the authors use the coupled supply and demand coordination degree of ecosystem services to determine the spatial planning strategy of ecological restoration. What is the scientific basis for this operation? The authors need to add further explanation. 

 

Response 4: We sincerely thank the reviewer for careful reading. We have added the scientific basis for this operation, including the exact location where the change can be found in the revised manuscript on lines 203 through 231 of the first page 10-11.

 

 

Point 5: In the conclusion section, the authors need to add the research shortcomings of this paper.

 

Response 5: Thanks for your suggestion. We have added the research shortcomings of this paper, including the exact location where the change can be found in the revised manuscript on lines 540 through 553 of the first page 29-30.

 

Point 6: It is recommended that all images in the text be replaced with high-resolution ones.

 

Response 6: Thank you for your careful check. We have replaced all images in the text with high-resolution ones.

 

Point 7: The authors used a large amount of Chinese literature. It is recommended to supplement the literature of relevant international studies. 

 

Response 7: We sincerely thank the reviewer for careful reading. We have added more references  of relevant international studies.

1、Castro, A.J., Verburg, P.H., Martín-López, B., Garcia-Llorente, M., Cabello, J., Vaughn, C.C., Landscape, E.L.J., Planning, U., 2014. Ecosystem service trade-offs from supply to social demand: A landscape-scale spatial analysis.  132, 102-110;

2、Gerald, J., Gray, Maia, J., Enzer, Jonathan, Forestry, K.J.J.o.S., 2001. Understanding Community-Based Forest Ecosystem Management.

3、Barbier, E.B., Hacker, S.D., Kennedy, C., Koch, E.W., Stier, A.C., Silliman, B.R., 2011. The value of estuarine and coastal ecosystem services. Ecological Monographs 81, 169-193.https://doi.org/10.1890/10-1510.1

4、McPhearson, T., Kremer, P., Hamstead, Z.A., 2013. Mapping ecosystem services in New York City: Applying a social-ecological approach in urban vacant land. Ecosystem Services 5, E11-E26.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2013.06.005）

 

Point 8: I would suggest the authors to work on the language and do proofreading.

 

Response 8: Thank you for your suggestion. We have tried our best to polish the language in the revised manuscript.

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Land ecological conservation zoning and optimisation strategies are an important issue for sustainable land use. This paper delineates land ecological protection zones and develops control strategies from the perspective of coupled supply and demand coordination of ecosystem services. The study can provide a reference for land use planning and management practices. From the perspective of improving the quality of the paper, the following points are made:

 

(1) The summary section needs to be streamlined.

 

(2) In the Introduction section, what is the progress of research on this topic in the international arena? Please add further academic contributions to this paper.

 

(3) Line 135-185, which is too cumbersome in its presentation of the study area. Please just briefly indicate why Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area was chosen as the study area. An overview of the study area can be placed in a later section.

 

(4) Normative issues. The way references are marked in this paper differs from journal requirements. Secondly, the mathematical formulae in this paper need to be re-edited. Figures 3-6 are not standardized, lacking a compass as well as a scale. The names of the coordinates of the Moran's I coefficient diagram in Figure 5 need to be corrected. table 0. in Line 412 is incorrectly labelled. Finally, I would suggest the authors to work on the language and do proofreading. 

I would suggest the authors to work on the language and do proofreading. 

Author Response

Point 1: The summary section needs to be streamlined.

Response 1: We think this is an excellent suggestion.We have streamlined the summary based on your suggestions on lines 4 through 24 of page 1-2.

 

Point 2: In the Introduction section, what is the progress of research on this topic in the international arena? Please add further academic contributions to this paper.

Response 2: Thanks for your suggestion.We have added to the international research on the topic .on lines 53 through 80 of page 3-4

 

Point 3: Line 135-185, which is too cumbersome in its presentation of the study area. Please just briefly indicate why Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area was chosen as the study area. An overview of the study area can be placed in a later section.

Response 3: We think this is an excellent suggestion.We have streamlined the summary based on your suggestions on lines 126 through 190 of page 7-9.

 

Point 4: Normative issues. The way references are marked in this paper differs from journal requirements. Secondly, the mathematical formulae in this paper need to be re-edited. Figures 3-6 are not standardized, lacking a compass as well as a scale. The names of the coordinates of the Moran's I coefficient diagram in Figure 5 need to be corrected. table 0. in Line 412 is incorrectly labelled. Finally, I would suggest the authors to work on the language and do proofreading. 

Response 4: Thanks for your suggestion.We have re-labelled the references and revised the figures.