Evolution of Disruption Resilience in the Wood Forest Products Trade Network, Considering the Propagation of Disruption Risks and Underload Cascading Failure

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The objective of this paper is to identify patterns in the dynamics of forest products trade network resilience taking into account the propagation of failure risks and cascading failures. Existing studies of the overload cascading failure model are widely used, but their theoretical foundations are insufficient for underload cascading failure scenarios. The peer-reviewed study helps to fill this gap. The main research question concerns not only the analysis of forest products trade network resilience, but also the development of methods for such analysis. Using mathematical modeling methods, the authors significantly improved the methodology and algorithms for resilience analysis of trade network. The reliability of the analysis results is confirmed using economic data for 2002-2023. As a result, the authors propose a tool for application (after adaptation) not only to the analysis of the forest products trade network, but also to other networks, including forecasting. The practical significance of the peer-reviewed study is that it expands the understanding of trade network resilience and provides scientific support for decision-making to optimize stability and manage risks in the global forest and wood products trade network.

The topic of the manuscript corresponds to the journal Sustainability.

The research methods correspond to the topic of the manuscript.

All structural elements of the manuscript, including tables 1–5, figures 1–15 and formulas (1)–(24), are logically interconnected and aimed at solving the stated research problem.

All tables and figures are well thought out. Table 2 is notable as it is a good example of a clear description of the formulas, including their specific purpose and a detailed explanation of the dependent and independent variables.

The conclusions are confirmed by the obtained results and correspond to the objectives of the study.

The manuscript is well structured and easy to read.

The methodology and results of the study are of scientific and practical interest to many readers.

Comments:

The manuscript does not contain any basis for substantive comments. The title of section 4.4 probably contains a typo ("oropagation").

Author Response

Dear Expert，
Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript, and also for your recognition of the contributions made to the paper. Your feedback motivates us to continue moving forward.We are deeply grateful for your assistance. Based on all expert opinions, we have carefully completed the revisions, which mainly include:

1. A systematic review of research progress in relevant literature has been added to the introduction section, further clarifying the theoretical contributions and practical value of this study;
2. Specific descriptions of real-world scenarios have been incorporated into the model construction section (Part 2), enhancing the interpretation of the research's practical significance;
3. A comparative analysis with existing models has been added to the model construction section, detailing the innovative process of this research;
4. Details of data preprocessing have been added to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the model.
5. Management implications and sustainable development recommendations have been included in the conclusion section, strengthening the practical guidance of the study;
6. Recent references from related fields have been supplemented, and the citation format has been standardized according to the required guidelines.
   Please refer to the attachment.
   

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Please see the attachment.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please refer to the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Review Comments

 

1. Overall Evaluation

This paper conducts an in-depth study on the evolution of disruption resilience in the global wood forest products trade network, integrating complex network theory and cascading failure models to explore the impact of risk propagation on network performance. The research demonstrates significant theoretical contributions and practical relevance, particularly in identifying critical nodes and optimizing supply chain stability. The structure is logical, the methodology is robust, and the results are thoroughly analyzed, making it a high-quality study overall. 

2. Strengths

• Innovation

The novel application of an underload cascading failure model to wood forest product trade networks addresses a critical gap in studying "underload failures" in resource trade systems. 

• Comprehensive Data

The use of global trade data (2002–2023) from the UN Comtrade database, covering upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, enriches the analysis. 

• Methodological Rigor

The integration of weighted network metrics (e.g., global efficiency, node strength) and community detection algorithms systematically uncovers the relationship between network structure and dynamic resilience. 

• Practical Relevance

Provides actionable insights for supply chain risk management in core countries. 

3. Suggestions for Improvement

• Deepen the Gap Analysis in Literature Review

   - While the literature review summarizes progress in network resilience and cascading failures, the specific gaps in "underload failure" research (e.g., mechanistic differences from "overload failures," unique risk propagation paths in trade networks) need further elaboration. A dedicated subsection in the introduction or literature review to clarify how this work addresses these gaps is recommended. 

• Enhance Figure Readability

4. Additional Comments

The conclusion could briefly suggest future research directions, such as the impact of climate change or geopolitical conflicts on network resilience. 

Provide more details on data preprocessing (e.g., handling missing values, regional consolidation rules) to enhance reproducibility. 

5. Final Recommendation

This is a high-quality academic paper with significant theoretical and practical contributions. With minor revisions (particularly to the literature review and result interpretation sections), it is recommended for acceptance. 

Author Response

Please refer to the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

accept