Efficiency Evaluation and the Impact Factors of Sustainable Forestry Development in China: Adoption of Super-Efficiency Data Envelopment Analysis and Malmquist Index Methods

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In my opinion, the authors submitted a manuscript that is interesting, and is linked to the objectives of the journal, however, there are some issues that have to be reconsidered. The Title is clear and express the objective of the manuscript, but, please., do not use abbreviations on the title.

The objective of the manuscript is to analyze the merits of forest products based on static, dynamic, and scale efficiency.

The topic addressed could be, potentially, relevant for the journal and for the field, as large. The aim gap is pointed out in the studied literature review by exploring a lack of knowledge regarding the paradigm shift in the forestry industry based on the economic reform policy established in China in 1978. Furthermore, it bridges the research gap through enhanced findings based on the super-efficiency data envelopment analysis and Malmquist index models.

The subject is rather interesting, so there is potential room for this manuscript, once it reaches the expected level of quality.   

The Abstract looks too long and should be completed with some relevant findings (expressed in numbers, for a better impact on the reader). Also, in this part, a too-large share is allocated to the concept presentation compared with the result and conclusions. 

The introduction is fluent, but the presentation of the structure of the paper is missing. The main objective and the potential secondary objectives are sufficiently pointed out. 

The part of the Literature Review is consistent and it is used to construct the literature gap. 

Research Methodology and Data Collection. It is recommended to present, as refences, similar studies, because that would improve the level of trust of the study.

The results are interesting, and looks consistent.

The discussion needs a short introductory paragraph explaining its structure could help better undemanding it.

The conclusions are short, easy to read and containing relevant information.

The references are sufficient for designing the scientific gap

 

The tables and figures are clear and enough.

Author Response

To begin with, the authors would like to express their profound gratitude to the Editor and the Reviewer for their valuable comments and suggestions to improve the manuscript content.

The responses to the Reviewer are given in point by point as follows.

Response to the Reviewer's comments

Independent Review Report, Reviewer 1  

Comment (1): In my opinion, the authors submitted a manuscript that is interesting, and is linked to the objectives of the journal, however, there are some issues that have to be reconsidered.

Authors' Response: Thank you for your commendation and valuable comment on improving the manuscript's content. We are very grateful for your dedication and hard work.

Comment (2): The Title is clear and express the objective of the manuscript, but, please., do not use abbreviations on the title.  

Authors' Response: Thank you for your commendation and constructive comment on improving the manuscript's content. Please, we have addressed your needful comments in the current version of the manuscript.

Comment (3): The objective of the manuscript is to analyze the merits of forest products based on static, dynamic, and scale efficiency.

Authors' Response: Thank you for your needful comments and understanding of the research objective. We appreciate your constructive suggestions.

Comment (4): The topic addressed could be, potentially, relevant for the journal and for the field, as large. The aim gap is pointed out in the studied literature review by exploring a lack of knowledge regarding the paradigm shift in the forestry industry based on the economic reform policy established in China in 1978. Furthermore, it bridges the research gap through enhanced findings based on the super-efficiency data envelopment analysis and Malmquist index models.

Authors' Response: We are grateful for your needful comments and commendations. The authors appreciate your insightful comments and in-depth knowledge to improve the manuscript content.

Comment (5):  The subject is rather interesting, so there is potential room for this manuscript, once it reaches the expected level of quality.   

Authors' Response: The authors are grateful for your constructive comments on improving the manuscript content. The authors have restructured the manuscript to reach the expected quality. Thank you very much.   

 

Comment (6): The Abstract looks too long and should be completed with some relevant findings (expressed in numbers, for a better impact on the reader).

Authors' Response: The authors are grateful for your critical and constructive comments to improve the manuscript's content. The authors have addressed your valuable comment in the current version of the manuscript.

Comment (7): Also, in this part, a too-large share is allocated to the concept presentation compared with the result and conclusions. 

Authors' Response: We appreciate your valuable comments and deep insight. Please we have incorporated your helpful suggestions in the current version of the manuscript.

Comment (8): The introduction is fluent, but the presentation of the structure of the paper is missing. The main objective and the potential secondary objectives are sufficiently pointed out. 

Authors' Response: The authors are grateful for your needful suggestions and commendation. We have addressed your critical comment in the current manuscript by indicating the study structure beneath the introduction.

Comment (9): The part of the Literature Review is consistent and it is used to construct the literature gap. 

Authors' Response: Thank you for your constructive comments and commendation. Thank you very much.

Comment (10): Research Methodology and Data Collection. It is recommended to present, as refences, similar studies, because that would improve the level of trust of the study.

Authors' Response: The authors are very grateful for your valuable comments. The authors have referenced some studies that have applied similar methodologies for this study’s analysis to give credence to our findings and approaches adopted.

Comment (11): The results are interesting, and looks consistent

Authors' Response: Thank you for your constructive comments and commendation. We are very grateful for your dedication and hard work.

Comment (12): The discussion needs a short introductory paragraph explaining its structure could help better undemanding it.

Authors' Response: We are very grateful for the valuable comments. Please we have incorporated your constructive comments in the current version of the manuscript.

Comment (13): The conclusions are short, easy to read and containing relevant information.

Authors' Response: Thank you for your needful comments and commendation. We appreciate your constructive comments and dedication to service.

Comment (14): The references are sufficient for designing the scientific gap

Authors' Response: The authors are grateful for the insightful comments to improve the manuscript's content. Thank you very much.

Comment (15): The tables and figures are clear and enough

Authors' Response: We appreciate your insightful comments and commendation. We are much grateful.

 

Thank you very much    

 

Reviewer 2 Report

- Advantages and benefits of the proposed approach should be given in detail. Also, the research gaps and the novelty of this study is not clear.

 

- The characteristics of current research should be highlighted in the comparative table of literature review from both aspects of theoretical and application.

 

- Generally, real data are tainted by uncertainty. The authors should discuss the proposed approach under data uncertainty.

- The authors should compare their results and proposed approach with popular approaches in literature.

- In new researches, the structure of forest is considered as a network. Thus, the authors can applied network DEA approach instead of traditional DEA models for performance appraisal of forestry development. For more details see the following references:

Huang, X. J., An, R., Yu, M. M., & He, F. F. (2022). Tourism efficiency decomposition and assessment of forest parks in China using dynamic network data envelopment analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 363, 132405.

An, R., & Huang, X. (2021). Forest park Efficiency and Influencing Factors in Fujian Province--based on Dynamic Network DEA and Micro Data. Forest Chemicals Review, 1510-1524.

Author Response

To begin with, the authors would like to express their profound gratitude to the Editor and the Reviewer for their valuable comments and suggestions to improve the content of the manuscript.

The responses to the Reviewer are given in point by point as follows.

Independent Review Report, Reviewer 2   

 

Comment (1): Advantages and benefits of the proposed approach should be given in detail. Also, the research gaps and the novelty of this study is not clear.

 

Authors' Response: The authors are grateful for your constructive comments to improve the manuscript's content. Please we have incorporated your needful comments in the current version of the manuscript and positioned it to reveal the novelty of the research and the study gap. We are much grateful.

 

Comment (2): The characteristics of current research should be highlighted in the comparative table of literature review from both aspects of theoretical and application. 

 

Authors' Response: The authors are grateful for your needful comments to improve the manuscript's content. We plead to maintain the current literature version as we plan to incorporate your needful suggestion in the subsequent submissions. Thank you very much.

 

Comment (3): Generally, real data are tainted by uncertainty. The authors should discuss the proposed approach under data uncertainty.

 

Authors' Response: We are very grateful for your constructive comments. This study gathered data from the financial statements published by the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share stock exchanges from 2014 to 2019. Although the data for this study were accessed from a credible database, data uncertainty cannot be exempted from research. Hence, the data uncertainty characteristic in this research regarding data acquisition and processing was controlled by adopting the stochastic frontier analysis method as a robust method to control the data uncertainty and deviations in the original and intended values. Thank you very much

 

Comment (4): The authors should compare their results and proposed approach with popular approaches in literature

Authors' Response: The authors are pleased with your constructive and vital comments to improve the manuscript's content. Please, the findings of this research were compared with earlier studies based on the chosen methodologies. Due to time constraints and other factors beyond our control, we will thoroughly implement your needful comments in our subsequent submissions. We are much grateful.

 

Comment (5): In new researches, the structure of forest is considered as a network. Thus, the authors can applied network DEA approach instead of traditional DEA models for performance appraisal of forestry development. For more details see the following references

Huang, X. J., An, R., Yu, M. M., & He, F. F. (2022). Tourism efficiency decomposition and assessment of forest parks in China using dynamic network data envelopment analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 363, 132405.

An, R., & Huang, X. (2021). Forest park Efficiency and Influencing Factors in Fujian Province--based on Dynamic Network DEA and Micro Data. Forest Chemicals Review, 1510-1524.

Authors' Response: We appreciate your constructive and insightful comments to improve the manuscript content. We are pleased with your insightful comments and in-depth knowledge of the subject matter. We highly agree with your suggestions and will incorporate them in subsequent research and submission. In the meantime, we have referenced these papers as a landmark in our subsequent study and publication.

 

Thank you very much.

 

 

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

- The characteristics of current research should be highlighted in the comparative table of literature review from both aspects of theoretical and application. In other words, a comprehensive literature review as well as research gaps should be summarized in in the comparative table.

Author Response

To begin with, the authors would like to express their profound gratitude to the Editor and the Reviewer for their valuable comments and suggestions.

The responses to the Reviewer comments are given as follows.

Response to the Reviewer's comments  

Independent Review Report, Reviewer 2   

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Comments (1): The characteristics of current research should be highlighted in the comparative table of literature review from both aspects of theoretical and application. In other words, a comprehensive literature review as well as research gaps should be summarized in the comparative table.

 

Authors' Response: The authors are grateful for your needful comments to improve the manuscript's content. Please, we have incorporated your needful comments in the current version of the manuscript and as shown in Table 1 below:

   

In assessing the improvement and management of enterprises and forestry industries, many researchers have attached great importance and focused on evaluating and identifying the feasible factors in improving forestry management and related enterprises by adopting several indicators and methodologies for analysis. This study reveals the summary of literature gaps conducted on forestry industries and firms’ efficiency performance through countrywide analysis based on methods, variables used for analysis, and key findings from previous studies, as demonstrated in Table 1. Based on the objective of this research, it is apparent that studies have been conducted on forestry product consumption and management at the international and domestic levels, which furnishes an excellent foundation for further studies to enhance the efficiency measurement of forestry industries in China. This research bridges the gap created and contributes to the existing research by employing super-efficiency DEA, Malmquist index, and SFA methodologies for analysis.

Table 1 Comparative literature review and study gap summary analysis  

Literature	Region/Country	Methodology used	Variables analyzed	Key related findings
[1]	Congo	Contribution analysis approach	Timber organizations, government agencies, and NGOs	Contribution analysis is critical for tracing several causal pathways through a web of interactions for marginal and indirect contributions
[3]	Central Italy	Conservation methods	Multi-span greenhouse	The conservation approach is suitable for sustainable building systems, energy efficiency, and reduction of energy consumption.
[4]	China	The extended economic model and space econometrics	Forestry products, Labor and Capital	The study revealed a statistically significant spatial correlation in China’s forestry products.
[6]	China	Terrestrial laser scanning and hemispherical photography	Forest canopy, Woods	The findings revealed the ability of terrestrial-based algorithms to capture the leaf area index of forest stands at varying densities.
[7]	China	Entity value input-output models, Forest resource input-output model	Paper products, furniture, and other timber products	The study showed that the demand for forest products differs significantly across industries in China.
[12]	Pakistan	Interview, questionnaire survey, textbooks, and Internet materials	Forest products: timber and fuelwood	The study showed that forest is beneficial in controlling erosion, improving aesthetic beautification, and regulating temperature
[27]	China	Grey relation analysis and DEA approach	Forest products	The findings revealed the average comprehensive efficiency of fourteen companies represented by 93% and 7% of waste resources.
[28]	Portugal	DEA and Malmquist’s Index models	Technology firms of Madan Parque	DEA and Malmquist index models are relevant for measuring firms’ efficiency and productivity change.
[29]	China	Three-stage DEA and stochastic frontier analysis	Cultural and creative industries	Three-stage DEA and stochastic frontier methods are critical for analyzing enterprises' efficiencies
[57]	United Kingdom	Case study	Forest products, ecosystem, and services	The study revealed that improving our comprehension of human-modified tropical forest ecology with microclimate knowledge supports ecosystem conservation and restoration.
[58]	Sweden	Survey and triangulation approach	Forest products	Rehabilitation in forest management improves the mental and physical health of individuals.
[59]	China	Case study	Forest products, landscape, and ecosystem dimensions	Urban forestry is an approach to adapting natural resource management.
[62]	Tennessee	Harvesting and transportation survey	Forest products	The research findings reveal the variations in the input used for costing harvesting operations and the difficulty of harvesting systems.
[68]	United States of America (USA), Canada, Taiwan	Data envelopment analysis and stochastic frontier analysis	Forestry product data from Web of Science	The study revealed that forest industries are interested in competitive benchmarking, while forest management organizations focused on applied benchmarking for internal analysis
[69]	United States of America	Network data envelopment analysis and slacked-based network model of super efficiency	Data from real commercial banks in the USA	Network DEA has the propensity to rank efficient DMUs than the conventional DEA
[76]	China	Super efficiency slacked based measure model	Forestry ecological efficiency, forestry fixed assets	The findings demonstrated China’s forestry ecological efficiency is low in the northeast but increased in the south of China

 

Thank you very much for your dedication to service and your constructive comments to improve the manuscripts content.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx