Interaction between Urbanization and Eco-Environment in Hebei Province, China
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Very good article. It can be published with the following modifications.
1. The introduction should be stated more clearly. Design a question to guide the research at the end of the introduction.
2. The theoretical gap of the research should be stated
3. The theoretical model of the research should be stated
4. The methodology should be clearly stated. Authors should have scientific justification for choosing methods.
5. Findings need further interpretation
6. Does this research increase existing knowledge about urbanization?
7. The following articles should be used to strengthen theoretical foundations:
Molaei Qelichi, M., Murgante, B., Yousefi Feshki, M. et al. Urbanization patterns in Iran visualized through spatial auto-correlation analysis. Spat. Inf. Res. 25, 627–633 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41324-017-0128-0
Seto, K. C., Parnell, S., & Elmqvist, T. (2013). A global outlook on urbanization. In Urbanization, biodiversity and ecosystem services: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 1-12). Springer, Dordrecht.
Uttara, S., Bhuvandas, N., & Aggarwal, V. (2012). Impacts of urbanization on environment. International Journal of Research in Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2(2), 1637-1645.
Harvey, D. (1996). Cities or urbanization? City, 1(1-2), 38-61.
Author Response
Thank you very much for your letter and the referees’ reports. All of your suggestions and comments for the manuscript are very important, they have an important guiding significance for my paper writing and research work. Here below is our description on revision according to your comments and suggestions, and the modified contents are marked by using the “Track Changes” function in the revised manuscript.
Q1. The introduction should be stated more clearly. Design a question to guide the research at the end of the introduction.
Answer:
Your suggestions are very good. We have revised the end of the introduction and put forward the problem and research ideas and methods in this study as another paragraph. the revised content is as follows:
Therefore, the coordinated development of urbanization and eco-environment needs further examination. To reveal the interactive relationship between urbanization and eco-environment in Hebei Province relatively comprehensively, starting from Hebei Province as a whole, this study proposes the symbiosis hypothesis of urbanization and the eco-environment, and integrates various mathematical models to conduct a quantitative study on the interaction relationship between urbanization and eco-environment from two dimensions: coupling and decoupling, in order to realize the whole process analysis of coupling quantitative measurement, coupling type identification, decoupling path exploration and symbiosis hypothesis verification. These results should provide references and suggestions for promoting the coordinated and healthy development of urbanization and eco-environment in Hebei Province. Furthermore, they will enrich the research field concentrated on the interactive stress relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment.
Q2. The theoretical gap of the research should be stated.
Answer:
Thanks for your suggestions, we think that the theoretical gap of the study have be stated in the revised 4th paragraph of introduction. In addition, we further discuss the theoretical gap of the study in the discussion. The revised content is as follows:
Compared with existing studies, we used the standardized value of urbanization comprehensive evaluation index to replace population urbanization rate to improve the northern curve, which divided the urbanization of Hebei Province into three stages. On this basis, on the one hand, we put forward the hypothesis of symbiosis between urbanization and eco-environment, on the other hand, from the two dimensions of coupling and decoupling, the interaction between urbanization and eco-environment was discussed quantitatively in the whole process. At the same time, using the hypothesis of urbanization and eco-environment symbiosis to decouple, the decoupling method is innovative. To some extent, the study revealed the interaction relationship and influence degree between urbanization and eco-environment in different stages of urbanization development, the results provided references for the harmonious development of urbanization and eco-environment in Hebei Province, and expanded the research methods and ideas of the relationship between urbanization and eco-environment.
Q3. The theoretical model of the research should be stated.
Answer:
Thanks for your suggestions, we put forward the symbiosis hypothesis of urbanization and the eco-environment, and analyzed in detail the reasons why urbanization and eco-environment conform to the hypothesis of symbiosis theory from the three elements of symbiosis in the 2nd paragraph of introduction. So we think that the theoretical model have be stated. Maybe what we have stated is not enough, and we will further deepen the follow-up research.
Q4. The methodology should be clearly stated. Authors should have scientific justification for choosing methods.
Answer:
Your suggestions may be right. We have added some method applicability analysis as the basis for method selection in the 2nd paragraph of introduction. In addition, the reason why the corresponding model is used is briefly explained in the 2.3 section. The revised content in the introduction is as follows:
CCD can be used to evaluate the coordination degree of urbanization and eco-environment coupling, and Tapio decoupling model can express the impact of urbanization on eco-environment. However, the coupling degree and CCD are unable to reflect the qualitative and quantitative influence degree between subsystems at different development stages in the coupling system. Symbiosis degree model is a dynamic mathematical equation used to express the mutual symbiosis of two species population. It can not only reflect the interaction mode of two symbiotic units, but also reflect the interaction intensity between them. To this end, this study introduces symbiosis theory,……
Q5. Findings need further interpretation.
Answer:
Thanks for your suggestions, we have added We have added some further interpretation for the findings in sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 of the revision. Some of the revised content is as follows:
(in the 3.2.1 section) In terms of its stage, from 1985 to 2005, urbanization development was in its initial stage, and the development of urbanization is slow, while CCD between urbanization and eco-environment was low. From 2006 to 2013, urbanization development was in the rapid stage, the continuous improvement of urbanization had promoted the improvement of eco-environment to a certain extent, and the CCD rapidly increased. From 2014 to 2019, the development of urbanization was in the mature stage, while the level of urbanization had been further improved, it had a negative impact on eco-environment, and the quality of eco-environment first increased and then de-creased, resulting in the same change trend of the CCD.
(in the 3.3 section) while the development of urbanization and the implementation of corresponding policies have contributed positive forces to the sound development of eco-environment,
(in the 3.4.1 section) This indicates that the contribution of eco-environment to urbanization is negative, urbanization is inhibited by the eco-environment during the early period of urbanization, and after 1991, the contribution of eco-environment to urbanization was positive.
(in the 3.4.2 section) For the parasitic mode that occurred during the study period, the main performance was that the eco-environment parasitized over urbanization from 1986 to 1990, while urbanization development parasitizes over the eco-environment from 2016 to 2019.
Q6. Does this research increase existing knowledge about urbanization?
Answer:
The study used the standardized value of urbanization comprehensive evaluation index to replace population urbanization rate to improve the Northam curve, and verified that the urbanization process in Hebei Province generally conformed to the standard S-shaped curve, which was divided into three stages; In addition, the interaction between urbanization and eco-environment is quantitatively described from the two dimensions of coupling and decoupling. The research ideas and methods provided case references for other cities. Therefore, we believe that the study enriches the existing urbanization research.
Q7. The following articles should be used to strengthen theoretical foundations:
Molaei Qelichi, M., Murgante, B., Yousefi Feshki, M. et al. Urbanization patterns in Iran visualized through spatial auto-correlation analysis. Spat. Inf. Res. 25, 627–633 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41324-017-0128-0
Seto, K. C., Parnell, S., & Elmqvist, T. (2013). A global outlook on urbanization. In Urbanization, biodiversity and ecosystem services: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 1-12). Springer, Dordrecht.
Uttara, S., Bhuvandas, N., & Aggarwal, V. (2012). Impacts of urbanization on environment. International Journal of Research in Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2(2), 1637-1645.
Harvey, D. (1996). Cities or urbanization? City, 1(1-2), 38-61.
Answer:
Thank you for your suggestion and the references provided. We have added these articles and replaced some China references to strengthen theoretical foundations in the revision.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The introduction describing the scope of the paper, and the context are clearly articulated. The paper is clearly and logically structured, and the basis for the investigation and research findings are well founded. Data that has been collected is comprehensive and the analysis appears to be rigourous and consistent.
The area of focus is the ‘Northam curve of urbanization’. There should be a sentence of explanation early on in the paper to say what ‘the Northam curve’ is. It is put in inverted commas later on in the paper and they both should be consistent on whether it is in inverted commas or not
The English used in the paper is generally very good but there are some locations where there is need for small amounts of attention. Some of these are picked up below:
Since the Chinese reformation, the country’s level of urbanization has significantly improved,
Should be increased, not ‘improved’
Line 68
research on the relationship between urbanization and eco-environment is in its ascendant [38].
It should be ascendancy not ascendant
Author Response
Thank you very much for your letter and the referees’ reports. All of your suggestions and comments for the manuscript are very important, they have an important guiding significance for my paper writing and research work. Here below is our description on revision according to your comments and suggestions, and the modified contents are marked by using the “Track Changes” function in the revised manuscript.
Q1. The area of focus is the ‘Northam curve of urbanization’. There should be a sentence of explanation early on in the paper to say what ‘the Northam curve’ is. It is put in inverted commas later on in the paper and they both should be consistent on whether it is in inverted commas or not.
Answer:
Thank you for your suggestions. We have added a sentence to explain’ the Northam curve’ in the section 2.3.2, and inverted commas for ‘the Northam curve’ in the revised manuscript.
Q2. The English used in the paper is generally very good but there are some locations where there is need for small amounts of attention. Some of these are picked up below:
Since the Chinese reformation, the country’s level of urbanization has significantly improved,
Should be increased, not ‘improved’
Line 68
research on the relationship between urbanization and eco-environment is in its ascendant [38].
It should be ascendancy not ascendant
Answer:
Thank you for your suggestions. We have revised the two words in the corresponding position.
Thank you for your suggestions and comments again.
Sincerely yours,
Hefeng Wang
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The manuscript touches on the contemporarily significant subject: the correlation between urbanization and the ecological environment.
In the abstract, there is the following statement: "the positive effect of urbanization is evident in general" (line 28). I am not convinced that this reflects what you intended to say. How can urbanisation have a positive effect if its symbiosis with the eco-environment was "parasitic"? Maybe there is a misunderstanding on my side, but there is a risk that more of your readers will have similar thoughts and will consider this a discrepancy.
The "Sustainability" journal's template provides very precise guidelines about the structure of the abstract. Please consider restructuring the abstract strictly according to them. It should enhance the readers' interest in your work.
The addition of a discussion chapter, where you discuss your results as compared to other studies with similar scope, will enhance your manuscript. For example, you could show whether the situation was similar or very different in diverse regions.
The policy recommendations (i and iii) are quite general. We can understand what should be considered, but it would be important to know how this could be achieved. The discussion chapter will definitely support your propositions in this respect.
You could also consider enlarging the figures' fonts and explaining the shortcuts used in the tables (this can be done by using the notes below the tables). This suggestion is because some online readers might look at them (tables & graphs) before deciding to read the article.
Author Response
Thank you very much for your letter and the referees’ reports. All of your suggestions and comments for the manuscript are very important, they have an important guiding significance for my paper writing and research work. Here below is our description on revision according to your comments and suggestions, and the modified contents are marked by using the “Track Changes” function in the revised manuscript.
Q1. In the abstract, there is the following statement: "the positive effect of urbanization is evident in general" (line 28). I am not convinced that this reflects what you intended to say. How can urbanisation have a positive effect if its symbiosis with the eco-environment was "parasitic"? Maybe there is a misunderstanding on my side, but there is a risk that more of your readers will have similar thoughts and will consider this a discrepancy.
Answer:
Thank you for your suggestions. We have modified the sentence, and the content is as follows:
The symbiosis mode of urbanization and eco-environment was mainly asymmetric mutualism, with the two demonstrating mutual promotion and mutualism. However, in 2016-2019, the symbiosis mode became parasitic, urbanization development enforced upon the eco-environment.
Q2. The "Sustainability" journal's template provides very precise guidelines about the structure of the abstract. Please consider restructuring the abstract strictly according to them. It should enhance the readers' interest in your work.
Answer:
Thank you for your suggestions. We have restructured the abstract according to the "Sustainability" journal's template. The revised content is as follows:
Understanding the complex interaction between urbanization and the eco-environment is necessary for rapid and quality urbanization, eco-environmental protection, and the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature within a region. Based on panel data from Hebei Province between 1985 and 2019, we suggested a symbiosis hypothesis of urbanization and the eco-environment (SHUE) and used the distance coordination coupling model, Tapio decoupling model and symbiosis model to quantitatively determine the interaction relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment. We found that (1) the improved Northam curve of urbanization in Hebei Province met the logistic equation. (2) During the study period, the coordinated coupling degree (CCD) of urbanization and eco-environment exhibited an overall upward trend, while the coupling type gradually changed from the endangered imbalance recession type to the coordinated development type. (3) The decoupling types showed strong and weak decoupling fluctuations, with a high frequency of strong decoupling; the growth rate of the urbanization index was higher than that of the eco-environment index; and there was a positive effect between urbanization and eco-environment indicating positive urbanization. (4) The SHUE was verified. The symbiosis mode of urbanization and eco-environment was mainly asymmetric mutualism, with the two demonstrating mutual promotion and mutualism. However, in 2016-2019, the urbanization became advanced, while its development enforced upon the eco-environment. The study constructed a set of quantitative method to systematically discuss the interaction relationship from two dimensions: coupling and decoupling. The results provide reference for the coordinated development of urbanization and eco-environment in Hebei Province and consequentially enrich this research field.
Q3. The addition of a discussion chapter, where you discuss your results as compared to other studies with similar scope, will enhance your manuscript. For example, you could show whether the situation was similar or very different in diverse regions.
Answer:
Thank you for your suggestions and comments, according to your suggestions, we have reprocessed Discussion and Conclusions, and added other study references analysis, discussion on insufficient research method and policy implications in the discussion section. In addition, we have also simplified the conclusions in the revision. The revision context is as follow：
- Disscussion
In recent decades, the study on the two-way relationship between urbanization and eco-environment has never stopped at home and abroad. On the one hand, the impact of urbanization on resources and eco-environment is concerned [78]; On the other hand, the study pays attention to the constraints of land, water, energy, environmental capacity and ecological security on the urbanization process [79]. Most scholars use mathematical models such as coupling coordination degree model, grey correlation degree model and Tapio model to measure the coupling coordination relationship between urbanization and eco-environment, and identify the types of coupling coordination development. For example, Zhao et al. uses the improved environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) model and dynamic coordination coupling degree (CCD) model to discuss the relationship between urbanization and eco-environment in Yangtze River Delta[80]; Tan et al. analyzed the spatio-temporal changes of urbanization and eco-environment coupling types in different regions of Jilin Province by using the coupling coordination degree[81]; Of course, some scholars have discussed the relationship between urbanization and eco-environment from the single dimension of decoupling[82] or the two dimensions of coupling and decoupling[65]. However, at different stages of urbanization, the relationship between urbanization and eco-environment and the extent of their impact on each other have not been clearly answered, and the research on the relationship between urbanization and eco-environment from the two dimensions of coupling and decoupling is not deep enough. Compared with existing studies, we used the standardized value of urbanization comprehensive evaluation index to replace population urbanization rate to improve the northern curve, which divided the urbanization of Hebei Province into three stages. On this basis, on the one hand, we put forward the hypothesis of symbiosis be-tween urbanization and eco-environment, on the other hand, from the two dimensions of coupling and decoupling, the interaction between urbanization and eco-environment was discussed quantitatively in the whole process. At the same time, using the hypothesis of urbanization and eco-environment symbiosis to decouple, the decoupling method is innovative. To some extent, the study revealed the interaction relationship and influence degree between urbanization and eco-environment in different stages of urbanization development, the results provided references for the harmonious development of urbanization and eco-environment in Hebei Province, and expanded the research methods and ideas of the relationship between urbanization and eco-environment.
The results indicate that the CCD between urbanization and eco-environment is on the rise in Hebei Province, and the urbanization process is positive trend. Urbanization and eco-environment are reinforcing each other in Hebei Province. In addition, and the eco-environment contributes more to the development of urbanization. How-ever, due to rapid population urbanization, resource shortage, the main cause of the CCD decrease is the decrease of the evaluation index of the resource factor subsystem. What is the most obvious cause is that the substantial decrease of the total available water resources per capita. This indicates that the water resource shortage has become one of the main factors restricting the coordinated development of urbanization and the eco-environment. Therefore, the government should work to optimize the provincial industrial and planting structure, rationally allocate water resources, implement water-saving measures, strengthen the utilization of recycled water, and improve the utilization efficiency of water resources. At the same time, it is necessary to consider the relationship between urbanization speed and urbanization quality in Hebei Province. And it is necessary to clarify the main problems the eco-environment is facing. The government should adhere to the problem and policy guidance by implementing measures from the aspects of water, soil, air, and eco-environmental protection. Furthermore, the eco-environment capacity should be expanded and its carrying capacity should be improved.
This study comprehensively used various models to identify that the shortage of water resources was the main limiting factor affecting the coordinated development of urbanization and eco-environment from the macro level. However, there was no de-tailed analysis of how water resources factors affect socio-economic factors, population factors and ecological factors, which made it difficult for us to put forward reasonable suggestions. System dynamics takes simulation technology as a means and combines qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze and study the internal feedback mechanism of complex systems, which can be used for the action relationship between the elements of different subsystems. This is also the way for us to explore the action relationship of the elements between urbanization and eco-environment in the next step.
- Conclusions
Based on 35 years of panel data and a comprehensive evaluation index system, this study quantitatively examined the urbanization process and interaction between urbanization and the eco-environment in Hebei Province, China by employing the distance coordination coupling model, Tapio decoupling model, and symbiosis model, and verified SHUE. The paper realized the whole process analysis of the interaction between urbanization and the eco-environment from two dimensions: coupling and decoupling. The following conclusions are obtained:
(i) The comprehensive evaluation index of urbanization appears to be on the rise in Hebei Province. The improved ‘Northam curve’ equation satisfied the logistic equation, with the urbanization process presenting an inverted S-shaped curve in the province. Hebei Province has been actively promoting urbanization and has achieved remarkable results. Namely, its comprehensive evaluation index of urbanization has significantly improved. Furthermore, the overall level of the eco-environment also exhibited a fluctuating upward trend in the province. However, after 2016, the comprehensive evaluation index of the eco-environment declined. More specifically, during rapid urbanization, the ownership of per capita resources decreases, reducing the evaluation index of resources and the resource factor subsystem. These changes then further affect the comprehensive evaluation index of the eco-environment system.
(ii) Overall, the CCD of urbanization and eco-environment has an upward trend, with visible phased change. In the initial stage of urbanization, the CCD is low. Conversely, in the stage of rapid development, the CCD rapidly increases and reaches its peak during the mature stage after which it decreases. With respect to coordination type, it shifts from the endangered imbalance type to the coordinated development type during the study period. However, in the mature stage of urbanization, the type of coordination gradually changed from the synchronous type to the lagging type. The level of urbanization is advanced, and the eco-environment pressure is gradually increasing.
(iii) The degree of decoupling between urbanization and the eco-environment is evident in the dynamic changes of six states of strong and weak decoupling, including 14 strong decoupling relationships and 20 other decoupling relationships. During the study period, the urbanization process exhibited a positive type of urbanization, while the eco-environment gradually improved. With respect to the coupling and decoupling process, the level of urbanization significantly improved in the initial and rapid development stage of urbanization. In turn, this led to a steady improvement in the level of the eco-environment, with the positive effect of urbanization is significantly evident. During the mature stage of urbanization, the CCD initially increased and then de-creased, with the number of strong decoupling being significantly higher than that of other decoupling degrees. These results point to a negative effect between urbanization and eco-environment.
(iv) The results of this study verified SHUE. Namely, during the study period, the symbiosis mode of urbanization and eco-environment displayed the asymmetric mutualism mode and the parasitic mode. It also presents the fluctuation change of inter-action. Furthermore, the number of asymmetric mutualism modes was higher than that of parasitic mode. Thus, the overall mutual contribution between urbanization and the eco-environment is positive, with the two demonstrating mutual promotion and mutualism. However, between 2016 and 2019, the symbiotic mode was parasitic. The development of urbanization placed stress on the eco-environment, which is consistent with the decrease CCD observed between them, the transformation from the coordination type to the lag type, and the increase in strong decoupling.
Q4. The policy recommendations (i and iii) are quite general. We can understand what should be considered, but it would be important to know how this could be achieved. The discussion chapter will definitely support your propositions in this respect.
Answer:
Thank you for your comments. We have revised and simplified the policy recommendation in the discussion.
Q5. You could also consider enlarging the figures' fonts and explaining the shortcuts used in the tables (this can be done by using the notes below the tables). This suggestion is because some online readers might look at them (tables & graphs) before deciding to read the article.
Answer:
Thank you for your suggestions. We have enlarged the fonts of figure 1, figure 3, figure 4, figure 5 and figure 6 and explained the shortcuts by using the notes below the table 1, table 3, table 5 in the revision.
Thank you for your suggestions and comments again.
Sincerely yours,
Hefeng Wang
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
