Effects of Monocropping on Land Cover Transitions in the Wet Evergreen Agro-Ecological Zone of Ghana
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This study assesses the dominant land transitions among mono-crops and other land categories between 1986 and 2020 in Ghana using the Intensity Analysis framework. Unsupervised classification of historical Landsat images was used to produce land cover maps for 1986, 2002, and 2020. Post-classification change detection was performed. The Intensity Analysis framework was applied to the change matrices. This study addressed the four processes vital for natural resources management by (a) detecting changes that have transpired, (b) recognizing the nature of the change, (c) quantifying the areal extent of the change, and (d) assessing the spatial pattern of the change. This research focuses on determining the extent of structural and compositional changes dominating the Wassa 81 east (WE) landscape with a special focus on cumulative mono-crop agriculture (Cocoa, Oil palm, and Rubber).
In general, the paper is well-written, and the methods are described clearly. The Intensity Analysis framework can be complex to describe, therefore the significance of the expansion of mono-cultures on food security in the region can definitely be accentuated.
L140 – please clarify the statement “… Google were used to assess…”
L153 – “old maps”? rather explain this as historical imagery
L182 – why did you choose to use unsupervised classification?
L200-202 – provide a better description of change detection, e.g. reference for post-classification change detection and generation of transition/change matrices, e.g. as done in L208 – this means you could combine the change detection paragraph with the intensity analysis paragraph
L204 – Appendix A Table 4 should be in text.
L221 – How does the transition matrix show the spatial distribution of change?
L224-227 – Please check (equation 1 appears multiple times)
L232 – 241 Place at the start of the paragraph on Intensity Analysis
L263 – Map (Fig3) and Fig4 show 8 classes while text refers to 7 classes (L247)
L335 Figure 7Figure 11 – likely missing something? similarly in L407
L422 – Check: “(Hevea brasiliensis Wild. Ex A. Juss.) Müll.Arg.) plantation”
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Table 1 gives details of % the cloud cover
Give change matric table in your results section
line 90-100 should come after study area to give a good flow of method section.
You should consider to re-check the flow of your methods
Author Response
Comments/Suggestions and Responses
Point 1: Table 1 gives details of % the cloud cover
Response: The images selected have zero (cloud) cover for the Wassa East study sites.
Point 2: Give the change matric table in your results section
Response: It is done, can be found here (L322 – 325)
Point 3: line 90-100 should come after study area to give a good flow of method section.
Response: This has been carried out, it can now be found under Data and data sources: (L125-127), (L137-140), (L192 – 192), and (L209-211)
Point 4: You should consider to re-check the flow of your methods
Response: Done
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 4 Report
The paper takes 16 Wassa East District of Ghana as the research object, and uses Landsat images to classify land use in different periods. The study finds that several hectares of Cocoa, Oil palm, and Rubber are replacing natural vegetation habitats for many years, thus threatening the local biodiversity. Findings are crucial for decision-making on land development and biodiversity conservation.
The paper has detailed data, appropriate methods, and credible conclusions. The research results can provide support for local land development and biodiversity conservation.
There are some problems:
1. It is recommended to merge 2.4 with 2.5.
2. It is recommended to combine the three pictures in Figure 3 into one picture, and then share the Legend.
It is recommended to accept after modification.
Author Response
Comments/Suggestions and Responses
Point 1. It is recommended to merge 2.4 with 2.5.
Response: Revised (L218)
Point 2. It is recommended to combine the three pictures in Figure 3 into one picture, and then share the Legend.
Response: These are two distinguished figures: Fig. 3 (L272-273), and Fig.4 (L293-308)
Point 3: It is recommended to accept after modification.
Response: Well noted, thanks
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Table 1 add a column to show the cloud cover percentage
Author Response
Thanks for suggesting adding a column to Table 1 to show the cloud cover percentage.
The Landsat satellite image scenes extracted for the mapping were carefully chosen devoid of cloud cover, therefore, the cloud cover percentages were zero. The authors, therefore, think it is not useful adding it to the table.
