Spatio-Temporal Pattern, Evolution and Influencing Factors of Forest Carbon Sinks in Zhejiang Province, China
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The Paper deals with actually worldwide demanded topic – analysis and quantification of the carbon sequestration on regional level, case study of Zhejiang Province in China. Concrete Study presents very interesting information’s, described inspiring used methods and remarkable results.
Presented paper is by my opinion good prepared, but with some modifications from standard pattern used in Forests journal.
I have next comments and recommendations, which by my opinion aim to improve to final quality of paper:
I recommend a few text changing in the Article. Standard structure for Article is Abstract, Introduction, Material and Methods, Discussion, Conclusion and References. Abstract I consider as adequate. Introduction is completely clear, for me little large for Readers information´s to presented topic (maybe shortening). Chapter 2 (actually named Mechanism analysis) is for me unstandardized. By my Opinion, would be better whole text shorten, choose only important information’s, move some Ideas, sentences, and suggestions split to Introduction and to Material and Methods. Text visibility in Fig. 1 is for me little hard, I recommend enlarged text size. Some marks is for me hard understanding – can Authors explain, how influenced policy factor Forestation (by my opinion better Name is “Reforestation” or “Afforestation”)? What does it mean “Forest accumulation”? Are all marks and sentences necessary?
Equation 1 is by my opinion not Equation, but frame for common function.
For me are conventional Ideas as “the first Law of geography” little unclear (row 183, I suggest modify and append References) , vague is declaration “the closer the correlation, the closer the correlation” (row 184) – what does it mean? What authors mean in sentence (row 193) “if region in China has insufficient land indicators”? I think, land indicator cannot be insufficient, only value.
Chapter 3 Research methods and data Sources I recommend modify to standard name Material and Methods. Please, append reference to used Durbin model. Text size in formula (3) is very small, please, enlarge it better visibility for readers. In subchapter Material (actually Data sources) append concrete values of areas in Zhejiang province. Standardized amount expressed in units per hectare is more appropriate for comparison with other regions and States. Can Authors append total amount to hectare amount?
In current Article I lack of chapter Results, please append Name this Chapter.
Fig. 2 presents simple characteristics of total amount, without information´s about area are for me those value little inadequate. I recommend present amount per hectare and changes in amount per hectare.
In table 1 are for me not completely clear notions “Forest harvesting limit” and “Public forest holding”. Please, append in text explanation – limit is harvested amount or planned amount, or?
Actually Chapter 5 presented by my Opinion Results and too somewhat like Discussion. Change Chapter numbering. Sentence (row 375-376) “deforestation has a negative relationship with forest carbon sequestration” is By my Opinion very trivial declaration and useless. Too (row 382) “deforestation will negatively affect forest area and forest stock”. I recommend modify main presented Ideas with focus on actual scientific level in scientific journal.
Chapter 6 I recommend divide to 2 chapters – first Discussion and Conclusion on the end.
Number of references used in this Article I consider as inadequate – from only 23 sources, as 19 are only regionally “home” sources form China. I recommend append too international sources.
I recommend publish this paper as Article in Forests Journal only after mentioned modifications.
Author Response
Please see the attachment！
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The MS is interesting; however, the MS needs major revisions before acceptance.
Some comments and suggestions about MS
Title
1- Line 2-3: The title should be “Spatio-temporal Pattern, Evolution and Influencing Factors of Forest Carbon Sinks in Zhejiang Province, China”.
Abstract
The abstract should be a brief picture of your study instead of a lengthy story.
1- Why did you conduct this study? Please also add the answer to this question in the Abstract.
2- Line 11-37: According to journal (Forests) policy, the abstract should not be more than 200 words and your abstract is more than 400. So please rewrite the precise and short Abstract to meet the journal’s requirements and for easy understanding of readers.
3- Line 37: Please remove the words ‘forest carbon sink; Zhejiang province’ from the keywords and add more suitable words to enhance the visibility of your Article.
Introduction
1- The introduction lacks the following information:
i. What scientific questions have you addressed?
ii. What will benefit the scientific community/society of your study?
iii. What is the significance of your research?
2- The authors are encouraged to cite recent literature in the introduction.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2022.106280, Catena
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158610, Science of The Total Environment.
Mechanism analysis
1. Line 116: Figure 1 is a good job and I appreciate the authors for this.
2. Line 117: ‘(1) Natural factors.’ should be subheading as 2.1.1. Natural factors
3. Line 126: ‘(2) Socio-economic factors.’ should be subheading as 2.1.2. Socio-economic factors
4. Line 143: ‘(3) Forestry policy factors.’ should be subheading as 2.1.3. Forestry policy factors
Research methods and data sources
1. Please, add the study area map.
Analysis of the spatio-temporal evolution of forest carbon sinks and influencing factors in Zhejiang province
1. Line 263: Please replace ‘4.1. Spatio-temporal pattern evolution of forest carbon sinks in Zhejiang province’ with ‘4.1. Spatio-temporal pattern, the evolution of forest carbon sinks in Zhejiang province’.
2- Line 295: Please use another color gradient than green to illustrate Figure 2 better.
3- Line 301: Please rewrite the comprehensive and self-explanatory title of Table 1.
4- Line 355,433, 450: Same comments as for Line 301.
Discussion and Conclusions
1. Discussion is shallow and irrelevant. Rewrite the discussion chapter, and interpret and compare your results with earlier ones.
2. Write a discussion 1st, then Conclusions.
3. Conclusions should be on the concrete base of your findings.
How can you conclude without discussing your results? Is it logical? Can you justify it?
Hopefully, these suggestions will help you to improve your Article.
Good luck.
Author Response
Please see the attachment！Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Thanks to the authors for critically addressing my concerns. I am satisfied with the current version.
