The Recharge Channels of the Sierra Nevada Range (Spain) and the Peruvian Andes as Ancient Nature-Based Solutions for the Ecological Transition
, Sergio Martos-Rosillo 2, Emilio Custodio 3, Luciano Mateos 4, Javier Cabello 5, Jesús Casas 5, María Jacoba Salinas-Bonillo 5, José María Martín-Civantos 6, Antonio González-Ramón 2, Thomas Zakaluk 2, Christian Herrera-Lameli 7, Javier Urrutia 7 and Luis Javier Lambán 1
Maciej Zalewski
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The Paper is an excellent example of how ancient Nature-Based Solutions should be adopted to recent water sustainability problem solving towards enhancement of sustainability potential of the catchment and its adaptation to the recent challenges of climate change.
Moreover, I believe the paper will be encouraging to integrate the cultural heritage in different parts of the world with modern infrastructure transdisciplinary science for achieving Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goals.
Author Response
We thank the reviewer for his comments and the recognition that the manuscript is interesting and important for the scientific community. We have carefully reviewed the English language and style as recommended.
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors suggest that the recharge channels of the Sierra Nevada range (Spain) and the Peruvian Andes as ancient nature-based solutions for the ecological transition. The paper is interesting read but in my opinion too light and incomplete. It requires a major revision to have this paper accepted for this journal. Please consider the following major concerns I have with the paper:
1. At p3, lines 109-110, the authors state that "The IWRM paradigm and the climate change context have raised interest among water managers, planners, and stakeholders in the so-called Nature-based Solutions for Water Integrated Resources Management (NbS-IWRM) [28]".
I would like to see a more critical reflection why NbS-IWRM is based on a new paradigm. Nbs is not something new, as van der Voorn & Quist (2018) have shown. Van der Voorn, T.; Quist, J. Analysing the Role of Visions, Agency, and Niches in Historical Transitions in Watershed Management in the Lower Mississippi River. Water 2018, 10, 1845. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10121845
2. A major shortcoming of the paper is the lack of supporting data on recharge. Therefore., I would like to see some data that will prove the authors' claim on the recharge channels of the Sierra Nevada range (Spain) and the Peruvian Andes as ancient nature-based solutions for the ecological transition.
3. Furthermore, I would have expected more direct links to climate change adaptation e.g., how does the ecological transition fit in a climate change adaptation context?
Author Response
Dear Editor,
We have included the author's reply to Reviewer 2 in the attached PDF file
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
This paper discusses the recharge channels of the Sierra Nevada range (Spain) and the Peruvian Andes. However, it needs a bit more work before could be accepted.
The most important issue is that this paper lacks depth and novelty. Most descriptions are a bit too broad and vague. I have two overall questions for you: what is the latest advantage of this careo rechange system compared with a natural water cycle? This one has more evaporation. Digging a well in the low-altitude region may save more water. How does this system help us better adapt to climate change? It’s not very clear in your manuscript. I have a few more minor suggestions below.
1. Line65- Can you please specify which group of the local communities? Any language Indigenous people are involved in? It would be great if you could provide a few examples.
2. Line 70: rather than globalisation, will urbanisation be a better term? It could be better if you could add a bit discussion about technocratic transitions in water sector
3. Line 85- I suggest deleting the sentence of ecological transition. Don’t bring in too many jargons and this sentence adds little to your content.
4. Lin3 88- I don’t think we can balance Earth’s production and people’s demand. Earth will do its own job. We can only balance the demand among different stakeholders
5. Lines 105-108: I don’t think this is correct. Past or current least developing countries such as Bangladesh and Bhutan, have adopted IWRM as guidance for their water policy. It is not only for ‘advanced country’! I don’t know what you mean by saying ‘advanced country’ as well.
6. I know NBS and IWRM, but I don’t know what is NBS-IWRM. A definition of this term is needed.
7. Rather than knowing its connections with the organisations, readers would like to know more about when and how careo recharge channels were developed and for what purposes at the beginning.
8. I am not sure about its role in sucking carbon. It may release more CH4.
Author Response
Dear Editor,
We have included the author's reply to Reviewer 3 in the attached PDF file
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
1. It just a list of three photos.
2. It just a less meanful discussion.
Author Response
We have included the author's reply to Reviewer 4 in the attached PDF file
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors have improved the paper significantly, but I have still some minor aspect for the authors to be considered.
The critical reflection on why NbS-IWRM is based on a new paradigm is somehwat under referenced.
Nbs is not something new, as van der Voorn & Quist (2018) have shown. Van der Voorn, T.; Quist, J. Analysing the Role of Visions, Agency, and Niches in Historical Transitions in Watershed Management in the Lower Mississippi River. Water 2018, 10, 1845. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10121845
Please refer to other relevant works:
Frantzeskaki, N., Ossola, A., Bush, J. Nature-based solutions for changing urban landscapes: Lessons from Australia, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127611
Kabisch, N., Frantzeskaki, N. & Hansen, R. Principles for urban nature-based solutions. Ambio 51, 1388–1401 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-021-01685-w
Perosa, F.; Gelhaus, M.; Zwirglmaier, V.; Arias-Rodriguez, L.F.; Zingraff-Hamed, A.; Cyffka, B.; Disse, M. Integrated Valuation of Nature-Based Solutions Using TESSA: Three Floodplain Restoration Studies in the Danube Catchment. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1482. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031482
Reviewer 3 Report
I have no more comments. The authors did a great job in responding to my questions.
