Policy-Driven Land Use Optimization for Carbon Neutrality: A PLUS-InVEST Model Coupling Approach in the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This manuscript studies and simulates land use changes in the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Economic Circle based on the PLUS-InVEST model. It reveals the changes of carbon storage under four development scenarios: Natural Development (NDS), Urban Development (UDS), carbon peak (CPS), and carbon neutrality (CNS). It is interesting, but it still needs revision and check before formal publication. Here are some specific suggestions for the authors:

1. Authors could consider drawing a flowchart in the 2.3 Research Methods section, which can clearly demonstrate the entire process and methods of the research.
2. Line 38 to 64, the author lists numerous scholars' research, but does not provide a detailed review of the research methods used in the manuscript. For exaple, why the transition matrix method is used instead of other methods? Although the transition matrix can reflect the quantitative characteristics of land use change and land type transformation, it ignores the influence of the initial scale of land types on the change. It is suggested that the author add relevant scientific research and conduct a comprehensive analysis in the introduction part, and review the research methods.
3. In the description of the formula in lines 186-188, the content of several formula characters is missing.
4. The authors did not mention the names of specific numbers and tables in the result description section, which can easily cause confusion when viewing the results. It is suggested that the authors add the names of specific figures or tables in each part. e.g. Figure 1, Table 1, Figure 2 in the manuscript. In Figure 2, the Legend is illegible and authors could explain how the numbers come out on the histogram.
5. Section 2.3.1 Plus Model and Line 163-178. In the Section, it is recommended that the authors put passage between Line 163-178 into Introduction Section. Instead authors should add Equations of the Plus Model and some related software here.
6. Line 274-276, authors mentioned “overall dynamics of comprehensive land use” and “single land use dynamics”, so authors should add the equations for them in the “Research Methods” Section.
7. Line 276-278, “2000-2010: the change of unused land is the most significant, with a single land use dynamics of 8.42%; the area of grassland and agriculture land decreases, and the change rate is slow; the area of forest land, water area and construction land increases.”. However, readers can not see this clearly. The reason is that authors do not give the table or changed figure to prove this. From the Figure 3a and Figure 3b, we can not find this results. In the manuscript, there are more similar cases. So Please find this and revise.
8. Line 300. Authors wrote “….from 63.48% in 2000 to 61.57%......”. We can not find the ratio in the Table 4. So it is recommended that the authors should add a ration or percentage in the Table 4. In the manuscript, there are more similar cases. So Please find this and revise.
9. Line 344-345. Authors wrote “Compared with 2020, in 2030, under NDS, the areas of agriculture land, forest land, grassland, and unused land have successively decreased, while the areas of construction land and water areas have increased.”. However, we can not see this clearly. In the manuscript, there are more similar cases. So Please find this and revise.
10. The Discussion Section could be more abundant and more in-depth. The author could consider adding some specific discussions on policy scenarios to enhance the thematic feature of policy-driven. The author could consider adding comparison with other research results or review for value of your study.
11. For the Conclusion Section. The Conclusion Section could be shorten and can be more concise.
12. Figure 1. In the Figure 1, “Legand” should be “Legend”. Please check this. And Please add the unit for the GDP in the Figure 1. Also, authors might tell readers which year is for the GDP. The corresponding city name should be labeled at the GDP point on the map so that the GDP and the city can be related. The number for the Grid of the Figure 1 should be added a “E” for the longitude and a “N” for the latitude. In addition, There is a color matching problem on the background of the map. It is suggested that the author make modifications.
13. Figure 2. It is suggested that the blue background of Figure 2 be changed to a white background for better clarity. And the neighborhood weight in Figure 2 seem to be confusing for readers. It is recommended that the author use a more intuitive table format to represent them. In addition, it is recommended that the author add relevant descriptions.
14. In Table 3. It is suggested that the author move the Carbon Density unit (t/ha) into the table name and delete the first row of the Table 3. Similarly, it is suggested that the author place the units in Table 4 in the table title in the same way as in Table 3
15. For the Table 3, the land use classification is: agriculture, forest, grassland, water, Construction and Unused. However, for Figure 3 and Figure 4, the land use classification is: Agriculture, forest, grass, water, Construction and Unused. So my suggestion is to keep it completely consistence.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

It needs to be polished and it can be improved

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

With their study the authors present a well thought-through analysis. Even though they consider only a limited area in China, the methodology and in part as well the results show potential to be expanded even beyond the boundary of this limited area. Nevertheless, three major aspects and a couple of minor aspects persist with the article:
Major:
- Please go into detail and state more clearly where the study provides a distinct added value as compared to the existing studies on the topic, in particular the cited [8].
- As stated above there study shows the potential that even though the results were obtained solely for the twin city area, they might in part be extrapolated beyond the scope of the study. In how far this is possible and under which conditions might be discussed either in the discussion part or in the context of limitations.
- Why were the aspects discussed in 4.1 not considered in the study? There should at least be a justification of the decisions made to exclude them.
Minor:
- Line 186 is missing something, I think after "Where" instead of ":" is should read "s_ij".
- Avoid expressions like "at home and abroad" or "we should avoid".
- Line 249/396/400 and others: The values are given in a strange format. Either something went wrong this exponents or strange units were used.
- Line 359: The exponent is wrongly formatted.
- Figure captions are sometimes to the right and sometimes below the Figure, please use consistently the journal standard. The same holding for the numbering format in the caption.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Basically, authors revsied according to my suggestions. In the References Section, authors is recommended to keep the author's style comsistnece. For example, the number 1 is "Wang Weiwu", while the number 5 is "IMRAN M". So the writing style is not the same.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

It is OK.

Author Response

Comments

Basically, authors revsied according to my suggestions. In the References Section, authors is recommended to keep the author's style comsistnece. For example, the number 1 is "Wang Weiwu", while the number 5 is "IMRAN M". So the writing style is not the same.

Response

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