Identification of Priority Conservation Areas for Protected Rivers Based on Ecosystem Integrity and Authenticity: A Case Study of the Qingzhu River, Southwest China
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This is a very strong and well-established piece of work. The idea of an ecosystem-based model is not innovative or new, yet for the case of river ecosystems and as an integrated and implemented approach is certainly worth of being published.
The conclusions are suitable in terms of the importance and future application of the study apparently conducted.
The citations to literature are sufficient, but further examples of similar approaches could be cited.
The figures and appendix are well presented.
You can find several recommendations, which are indicative for the entire manuscript in the attached document.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Li and colleagues provided an interesting study where they identified priority conservation areas for protected rivers based on ecosystem integrity and authenticity in Qingzhu River, southwest China. The organisation of the paper is acceptable. The introduction section needs some discussion on ecosystem integrity and authenticity. The methods section currently is too descriptive and can be shortened. For example, Table A1 can be brought into the main manuscript to avoid some text in the methods section. The findings support the conclusion, and the study has practical implications both in China and elsewhere.
Below are some minor comments and suggestions for your consideration.
page 1, line 37-38: please make 'ecosystem integrity' and 'authenticity' as separate keywords;
page 1, line 41-42: please provide a supporting reference(s); you may cite the following references:
Mukul, S.A., Rashid, A.Z.M.M. (Eds.). 2017. Protected Areas: Policies, Management and Future Directions. Nova Science Publishers, USA, 245 p.
Venter O, Fuller RA, Segan DB, Carwardine J, Brooks T, et al. 2014. Targeting Global Protected Area Expansion for Imperiled Biodiversity. PLoS Biol 12: e1001891.
page 3, line 131: I would suggest combining section 2 and 3 together as "Materials and method";
page 4, line 143-165: this section needs supporting references in appropriate places;
page 5, line 193: as said before; please use a single "materials and methods' heading;
page 7, line 279, 299, 307: please use a different bullet style here and the previous page;
I would also suggest the authors to review the following articles.
Weihua Xu, Yi Xiao, Jingjing Zhang, Wu Yang, Lu Zhang, Vanessa Hull, et al. 2017. Strengthening protected areas in China. PNAS, 114: 1601-1606.
Mukul, S.A., Sohel, M.S.I., Herbohn, J., Inostroza, L., König, H. 2017. Integrating ecosystem services supply potential from future land-use in protected area management: A Bangladesh case study. Ecosystem Services, 26: 355–364.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
