Ecological Restoration and Protection of National Land Space in Coal Resource-Based Cities from the Perspective of Ecological Security Pattern: A Case Study in Huaibei City, China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I have reviewed the paper titled " Ecological restoration and protection of national land space in coal resource-based cities from the perspective of ecological security pattern: A case study in Huaibei City, China and this paper is written very well with new experimental techniques. I would like to congratulate the authors and wish them best of luck for future researches. This paper can be accepted in land journal but before publication I would like to recommend a minor revision which is related to revise the Study area map. Please add coordinates Lat/Long values as a grid to map frame for reference the location of the area.

1. What is the main question addressed by the research? The main focus of the research is Ecological restoration and protection of national land space using \models assessments tools with GIS help. The research question is addressed in an appropriate manner. 2. Do you consider the topic original or relevant in the field? Does it address a specific gap in the field? The topic is interested in the reader community and cover the research gap in the field of Ecological land-use planning with GIS. 3. What does it add to the subject area compared with other published material? The methods used in this research is new and comparatively with another research in this field. 4. What specific improvements should the authors consider regarding the methodology? What further controls should be considered? Nothing. 5. Are the conclusions consistent with the evidence and arguments presented and do they address the main question posed? Conclusion should be precise. try to reduce it and be focused as much as you can. 6. Are the references appropriate? Yes, References are updated and appropriate. 7. Please include any additional comments on the tables and figures. It would be a great idea if longitudinal/latitudinal value of the study area map is provided (Grid). Insert grid to all the maps.

 

 

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors of the paper conducted a detailed and multi-threaded analysis of the industry on the physiography of a city located in China. The work is interesting and potentially worth publishing, but the authors should improve a few elements.

I would like to ask what is new in this work in relation to the results already obtained?

How large were the (global) land subsidence in the area of the studied city?

Why do the authors of the paper refer only to Chinese works and almost exclusively to Chinese authors?

After all, the presented issues were raised by researchers from other parts of the world and it would be appropriate to refer to them at least in the introduction, and perhaps also in the discussion:

Akcin, H., Kutoglu, H. S., Kemaldere, H., Deguchi, T. & Koksal, E. Monitoring subsidence effects in the urban area of Zonguldak Hardcoal Basin of Turkey by InSAR-GIS integration. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. sci. 10(9), 1807–1814.

Solarski, M., Machowski, R., Rzetala, M. et al. Hypsometric changes in urban areas resulting from multiple years of mining activity. Sci Rep. 12, 2982 (2022).

Lee, D. K., Mojtabai, N., Lee, H. B. & Song, W. K. Assessment of the influencing factors on subsidence at abandoned coal mines in South Korea. Environ. Earth Science. 68, 647–654 (2013).

Mancini, F., Stecchi, F., Zanni, M. & Gabbianelli, G. Monitoring ground subsidence induced by salt mining in the city of Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Environ. geol. 58, 381–389 (2009).

Marschalko, M. et al. An indicative method for determination of the most hazardous changes in slopes of the subsidence basins in underground coal mining area in Ostrava (Czech Republic). Environ. prompt. Assess. 185, 509–522 (2013).

Harnischmacher, S. Quantification of mining subsidence in the Ruhr District (Germany). Geomorphologie Relief, Processus, Environnement 16(3), 261–274.

Harnischmacher, S. & Zepp, H. Mining and its impact on the earth surface in the Ruhr District (Germany). Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie 58(suppl. 3), 3–22.

Dulias, R. The Impact of Mining on the Landscape, A Study of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in Poland. Environmental Science and Engineering. 209, (Springer International Publishing Switzerland, 2016).

I believe that the literature review (despite many cited papers) is the weakest point of the presented paper.

Specific remmarks:

Authors should add a geolocation keyword

In figure 1 construction areas merge with industrial areas, this should be demarcated.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Almost all of my comments and suggestions have been acted upon, so I believe the article may be considered for publication.