Assessing the Ecosystem Services of Various Types of Urban Green Spaces Based on i-Tree Eco

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

General Comments

This manuscript combines the sampling method to collect more accurate field data than the conventional methods with the analysis by using i-Tree Eco which is a software that can be used by anyone to quantitatively evaluate the ecosystem services provided by the four urban green spaces in Luohe. Based on the analysis result, this manuscript makes concrete recommendations for urban planning in Luohe.

This is an interesting empirical study showing the usefulness of the evaluation of ecosystem services using i-Tree Eco in urban planning. To the best of my knowledge, similar research has not been published. Therefore, I evaluate this manuscript as interesting and new. In addition, this manuscript is well written and easy to understand.

I will point out a few points that can lead to improvements in this manuscript. I hope that my comments will help the authors improve their manuscript.

 

Specific comments

l.104: The comparison between the method of creating sample plots in this study and the conventional methods makes it possible to show more convincingly how the method proposed in this study is innovative. Is it possible to show how much accuracy has increased by using the proposed method compared to conventional methods? As the authors point out, there is the trade-off between cost and accuracy therefore we must balance them. This information is useful in considering that.

l.368: The economic valuation of ecosystem services using i-Tree Eco would be useful in urban planning, as it would enable a cost-benefit analysis of increasing each urban green space. I think this is worth mentioning in this manuscript.

l.352:“m3” should be “m^3”. To improve the English in this manuscript, it may be beneficial to use a professional English editing service.

Author Response

Please check the attachment file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear authors:

In my opinion the paper fits the scope of the Sustainability journal well. You have studied a very interesting topic and I think you have submitted a very high quality manuscript, so I will recommend the publication of this manuscript, after to do two minor changes.

-Please, define the objective of this study in the end of Introduction section.

-Add some references regarding the need to build urban green spaces would help to reinforce the theoretical framework.  Sustainability, Land and Resources journals provide interesting papers regarding this topic. I suggest review these journals.

 

Good job!

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf