Examining the Mediating Effect of the Rural Economic Dynamization between the Socio-Environmental Heritage and Sustainability of Protected Areas

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors,

I am so honored to review the paper about sustainability in the protected area. The topic is interesting but there is some misunderstandings. I tried to have some comments and suggestion for improvements.

For the whole text, paraphrase all the text. iThenticate rate is high.

Abstract:

Revise the abstract for comprehensiveness. Low explanation for method and results are there.

Introduction:

There is a missing paragraph for linking SD issue and protected area.

Use citation for your sentences and not coping a sentence from a reference.

Results:

Include the explanations in the figures, for all figures.

References:

Check all references. Some of them have not complete information.

Another issue is the number of references.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

We appreciate your observations and suggestions to improve our work. Below we respond to your comments.

• Abstract:

Revise the abstract for comprehensiveness. Low explanation for method and results are there.

Response: Thank you for your observation. It was improved for better comprehension, and the methods and results were explained more thoroughly.

• Introduction:

There is a missing paragraph for linking SD issue and protected area.

Response: Thank you for your observation. It was added in lines 285 to 289.

Use citation for your sentences and not copying a sentence from a reference.

Response:  Thank you for your observation. It was reviewed within the text to make the improvement.

• Results:

Include the explanations in the figures, for all figures.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. They were included and improved.

• References:

Check all references. Some of them have incomplete information.

Response: Thank you for your observation. They were reviewed and corrected.

Another issue is the number of references.

Response: Thank you for your observation. It was reviewed and corrected.

 

 

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Comments

Sustainable development in protected areas means ensuring their conservation and sustainability through the use of techniques, tools, and resources that effectively meet the demand for multiple dimensions: social, environmental, and economic. This theme is permeated by clashes and conflicts ranging from theory to praxis since they involve different positions in political, cultural, ideological, and conceptual.

A large amount of terminologies is justified by the different generational modes of behavior, action, and behavior that manifests itself in the different protected areas of any country. In other words, in each nation, as well as in each region, different ones are adopted terminologies to deal with the social sector, according to aspects, e.g., historical, cultural, political, and legal.

 

Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) is not just about one economic problem, as it may involve other issues, e.g., the sociability in the territories, the political participation of the people, the degree of organization environmental preservation, and the affirmation of cultural identities.

Suggestions

Whereas the legal specificity of communities located in areas of environmental preservation should not be an obstacle to citizenship, ecological conservation, and quality of life achieved, it is suggested that any measure to strengthen its economy is preceded by a mapping of the local activities that justify and direct the resources necessary for its implementation. The authors should take this recommendation into account. This contribution approach is provided for in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.

The presentation of the main socio-demographic and environmental characteristics of the Community should be considered in this article in Serranía de las Quinchas Regional Natural Park.

Another suggestion is to mention in the text the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), which has been presenting itself as an innovative alternative for generating work and income and a response in favor of the inclusion of socio-labor. It can also be considered as a new model of development, more humane and inclusive. The SSE comprises a diversity of economic and social practices, which carry out activities of production of goods, provision of services, solidarity finance, exchanges, trade fairs, and solidary consumption.

 

That said, the meanings of "multidimensional" and "multi-territorial" from SSE practices address the "endogenous" development of dynamic economies based on cooperation, learning, tacit knowledge, specific technical cultures, and synergistic interrelationships. 

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

I do not come from a country whose native language is English. 

Author Response

Reviewer 2.

 

Thank you so much for your suggestions and observations. We greatly appreciate your comments.

A paragraph was added to the conclusions so that future research considers the recommended approach, which can be seen in lines 516 – 520.

On the other hand, SSE was included in the text between lines 170-177 as suggested.

 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The study is interesting.

1. What is the main question addressed by the research? [Examining the mediating effect of the rural economic dynamization between the socio-environmental heritage and the sustainability of protected areas]. Authors provide “Figure 2. Location of PNRSQ and villages” to show rural settlements and also for economic & socio-environmental condition. Rural population size and also distribution and pop growth are the main factors to show economic & social dynamic that suggest add to article.

2. Both the introduction and case study description are meaningful and provide sufficient knowledge on both matters. The research design is well structured and the methodology adopted is not explained step by step making it highly unclear and complex.

3. In line 319 (Therefore, the 172 cases collected for …), How is case distribution in study region?

4. In instrument, authors used scale that developed by Castro. (Ref 55) where and what used as variables were measured through a measurement?

5. Castro developed this scale for his Doctoral Thesis. What measured the reliability & validity? In Line 368 [For the measurement model, reliability was estimated through Cronbach's alpha…], but there is not and value to show reliability.

6. In line 346-7: [The statistical analysis was carried out using structural equation modeling based on variances or partial least squares (PLS-SEM)]. Results in tables 1,2 and fig.3 shows correlations and path analysis whit SPSS. If authors used PLS-SEM and SmartPLS 3.3.3 program, Prepare results tables and … same as standard and familiar results for PLS-SEM.

 

7. Please also indicate if all main questions posed were addressed and by which specific experiments. The conclusions are consistent

 

Please highlight changes in articles for Fast and Accurate review.

Regards

 

 

 

Comments for author File: Comments.docx

Author Response

Reviewer 3.

 

Dear reviewer, we appreciate your observations and recommendations to improve our work. Below we respond to your observations and suggestions.

 

• What is the main question addressed by the research? [Examining the mediating effect of rural economic dynamization between the socio-environmental heritage and the sustainability of protected areas]. Authors provide “Figure 2. Location of PNRSQ and villages” to show rural settlements and also for economic & socio-environmental condition. Rural population size and also distribution and pop growth are the main factors to show economic & social dynamic that suggest add to article.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. The research purpose was clarified in the abstract, and Figure 2 was adjusted.

• Both the introduction and case study description are meaningful and provide sufficient knowledge on both matters. The research design is well-structured, and the methodology adopted is not explained step by step, making it highly unclear and complex.

Response: Thank you for your observation. The methodology was adjusted according to your suggestion.

• In line 319 (Therefore, the 172 cases collected for …), How is case distribution in the study region?

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. It was explained between lines 333 and 334.

• In the instrument, authors used a scale developed by Castro. (Ref 55) where and what used as variables were measured through a measurement?

Response: The referenced research examines the impact of socio-environmental heritage on sustainability. In this study, we aim to demonstrate the mediating effect of rural economic dynamization between socio-environmental heritage and the sustainability of protected areas.

• Castro developed this scale for his Doctoral Thesis. What measured the reliability & validity? In Line 368 [For the measurement model, reliability was estimated through Cronbach's alpha…], but there is no value to show reliability.

Response: Thank you for your observation. This information was included in section 3.3.

• In line 346-7: [The statistical analysis was carried out using structural equation modeling based on variances or partial least squares (PLS-SEM)]. Results in tables 1,2 and fig.3 show correlations and path analysis with SPSS. If authors used PLS-SEM and SmartPLS 3.3.3 program, prepare results tables and … same as standard and familiar results for PLS-SEM. (same as below image)

Response: We understand the observation, but we clarify that a reflective measurement model was used in the research, where the indicators reflect the variables, generating tables that present the behavior of the variables. An analysis of the importance-performance map (IPMA) was conducted at the level of latent variables and indicators, a statistical procedure that identifies antecedent variables with significant influence on the target variable. This allows for improvements to be proposed based on these results. Therefore, graphs as suggested by the reviewer are not generated.

• Please also indicate if all main questions posed were addressed and by which specific experiments. The conclusions are consistent.

Response: Thank you for the observation. The information was added in section 3.5, lines 387 to 391.

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

The work shows results that it was possible to recognize that there is a positive relationship between the SEH and the RED by recognizing ecosystem services and their appropriation as the SEH of the communities, a favorable effect is achieved in the configuration of RED processes, as well as in the generation of SPA systems. Likewise, there is a need to strengthen the recognition and use of ecosystem services, from the SEH as an enclave for the RED. These elements should be seen as a whole and not separately, given that the economic and development processes of the territories ultimately shape aspects of the SEH of these communities, thus defining the relationship of people with their environment, while promoting key aspects for the generation of sustainability elements such as social inclusion, economic growth, and environmental balance. Finally, the need to design educational strategies that lead to the understanding of the SEH and its contribution to sustainable development processes is reflected; an offer that would facilitate the promotion of human and integral development from the economic, social, and environmental perspectives, to educate the community from the understanding and recognition of the environment based on two essential elements: human actions and natural phenomena. In this way, it is possible to promote the generation of RED strategies based on the SEH of the territories and its appropriation by the communities.

The paper content valuable data but it could be published after minor revision as below.

 

General Remarks

 

Abstract

Please do not use abbreviation in abstract and keywords or provide the full name.

 

Detailed remarks

 

1.        Table 3  should be self-explaining. Please add proper information.

2.        Figure 1,2 should be self-explaining. Please add proper information.

Author Response

Dear reviewer, thank you for your observations and recommendations. Below we respond to your comments.

• Please do not use abbreviations in abstract and keywords or provide the full name.

Response: The abstract was modified to address your observation.

• Table 3 should be self-explaining. Please add proper information.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. We have attempted to add the pertinent information.

• Figures 1 and 2 should be self-explaining. Please add proper information.

Response: Figure 1 was modified to improve understanding. Figure 2 was modified to improve comprehension.

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

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