Land-Use/Land-Cover Change and Ecosystem Service Provision in Qinghai Province, China: From the Perspective of Five Ecological Function Zones

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper deals with a challenging topic. The general structure of the paper is easy to follow. This being said, I have however some minor remarks regarding the paper in its present form.

1. Introduction

While the paper may be addressing an exciting research problem, it fails to set the debates that the research is contributing to. You do not clearly identify a tension in existing understandings that the research will attempt to resolve. Moreover, I suggest defining the structure of the paper at the end of the section “Introduction”.

2.2 Methods

I suggest adding a paragraph where describe the entire methodological approach used supported by a logical scheme in order to facilitate the reader in his understanding.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

1、1. Taking five ecological functional zone (EFZ) in Qinghai Province of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as the research object, this paper analyzes the change process, characteristics and basic causes of ecological service value (ESV) in these areas from 1980 to 2020. On the whole, the research results are basically correct and the protection countermeasures are reasonable. Moreover, the great importance of geographical location and ecological value of Qinghai Province highlights the practical significance of this study.

2、The research method of this paper is relatively simple, and its innovation is insufficient. Therefore, the limitations of this study and the possibility of future improvement should be explained in the conclusion.

3、The socio-economic development of the five ecological functional zones in Qinghai Province has its own characteristics. The resulting conflicts between ecological service value and economic development are also different. Unfortunately, this article does not give a proper description and explanation, which is undoubtedly very important. Therefore, it is recommended to describe and explain this significant conflict in the discussion section of this paper, and the corresponding countermeasures need to be updated. Only in this way can we highlight the practical value of this research.

4、Finally, the literature review needs to be properly supplemented.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Abstract

Line 15: which country?

Line 23: What is ESV? First, give the full form, then use the abbreviation; follow in the whole manuscript.

Result 1: please write clearly that how much ESV has increased or decreased during your study period. You have written declined and increasing in a sentence. Follow the tense, either past or present.

Why the symbol ">" instead of writing? Is it a better understanding to the reader?

What is LUCC? Write the full form, then use the short form.

Could you tell some significant potential causes of declining ESV in one or two sentences at the end part of the abstract? Suggest to write ESV also in USD or denote 1 USD equals to ….RMB.

Introduction

Line 61: what is dramatic? Do not use such metaphoric words in the research papers.

Line 66-68: suggest to move in the method section.

Line 75, 77: Song, Han? Published date? Et al., ???

Line 89-92: missing citation.

Study area

Line 119-138: why so small paragraphs? Merge it, linking each other. To be a paragraph need at least 3 sentences.

Figure 1. what is red line? What boundary? EFZ or state boundary? Show your 5 EFZ zones by boundary. Is the scale the same to both figures? If not, keep the scale in both figures.

Describe the land use and land cover distribution of your study area.

Methods

Xie's coefficient values are too old. The study and ESV is about 2 decades old; what do you think? Still is it applicable to your study to evaluate the changes in ESV? Please give me your satisfactory answer.

Results

Figure 3. The figure is interestingly presented. But how about the light grey and white color denotes? Suggest to write I, II, III, IV, in each EFZ. The brown gradient color used in the figure is just chosen to show the changes?

Figure 4. What is the green line?

Figure 4: it looks the same (almost no changes) within the 5 figures during your study time. If possible, make different colors or you can separate by increased, decreased or stable (no changes). Make uniformity scale. Follow scale like as Figures 1 and 2 in Figure 5 and 6.

Discussion

Line 380: revise your sentence. There is no verb.

Line 384- 395: it looks results of your study. Suggest to discuss your results with several past studies/results. Do not repeat the results in the discussion section. Again found the same as in line 396-428.

Strongly suggest to discuss your results properly with the past several related studies, it is your poor part.

Conclusion

Line 512-514: Does your study covers the causes of land use change in your study area?

Line 522-535: do not repeat your results again in the conclusion part. Just write concluding remarks only.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors have revised seriously. However, minor English grammar and structure are required.