The Land-Use and Land-Cover Changes in the Este District, South Gondar Zone, Northwestern Ethiopia, in the Last Four Decades (the 1980s to 2020s)
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This study used Landsat satellite images and supervised classification techniques to investigate LULC changes and associated factors for the last four decades (the 1980s to 2020s) in Este District, northwestern Ethiopia. However, the classification of land cover types is not accurate in this sdudy. For example, "grassland" is also a type of "vegetation", therefore, in Table 2, it is not appropriate to consider "grassland" and "vegetation" as parallel land cover types. In the general LC classification, natural vegetation is divided into "tree cover / forest", "shrub cover / shrubland" and "herbaceous cover / grassland" (e.g. in Global Land Cover 2000, Esri 2020 Land Cover, Copernicus Global Land Service Land Cover 100m dataset). So, it is suggested to apply more reliable land use classification in this study according to existing datasets.
Here are some of my other small concerns：
1. In abstract part, there may be a misnomer in the sentense "As a result, the original croplands and vegetation classes (11% each) before 2000 were converted to new grasslands and croplands after 2018, respectively." In the preceding sentence, it is mentioned that grasslands and settlements increased while bare land and vegetation decreased, so the sentense is more likely to be that "the original croplands and vegetation classes were converted to 'new grasslands and settlements'", rather than "new grasslands and croplands".
2. The paper concluded that "The results indicated that precipitation, solar radiation, and population growth are the potential drivers". However, in line 188-189, the study assumed a linear change in LULC between 1984, 2000, and 2018. Then the linearly interpolated LULC data is applied to calculate the correlationship between LULC and potential drivers from 1984 to 2018. This could affect the accuracy of correlation analysis, for LULC data were measured for only three years between 1984 and 2018. How to consider the error caused by the linear assumption of LULC variation?
3. Figure 6. Flowchart is not simple and intuitive. Crossed arrows are not recommended.
4. In table 1, the sampling time of Landsat satellite images is inconsistent. It was summer in 1984, but it was winter in 2000 and 2018. Does season have impact on the results of LULC Change?
5. Figure 10. LULC change rate in Este District (1984 - 2018) . Is it "LULC change rate" or "LULC change value" in this figure? Since the unit of Y-axis is "km2", it is a unit for "LULC change value". For "LULC change rate", the unit should be "km2 per time unit", such as "km2/year".
6. The time in the questionnaire were not mentioned.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
A point-by-point response to the reviewer’s comments is attached below as a word.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
This manuscript was aimed to investigate LULC changes and associated factors for the last four decades (the 1980s to 2020s) in Este District, northwestern Ethiopia. However, there are still many problems in this manuscript, which is not innovative.
In Section 2.1. It is not necessary to introduce the natural environment and climate of the study area in detail. These information can be found on the network.
The structure of the flowchart is chaotic. For example, when OA is less than 85% and kappa coefficient is less than 0.85, there are three directions. How to choose?
There are errors in Table 1. Langsat 7 satellite was launched in 1999, so it is impossible to obtain Landsat 7 satellite images in 1984. Langsat7 satellite also has no OLI sensor.
In Sections 2.2 and 2.3, there is no specific theory about the method, nor does it explain what method is suitable for use in the study area, and most of them are operated by what software. This is not in line with the writing style of the thesis.
In Section 3.4. This part has no strong basis to support the result analysis. The potential causes of LULC changes need to be analyzed in detail.
Author Response
A point-by-point response to the reviewer’s comments is attached as a word.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
This study investigated LULC changes and associated factors for the last four decades (the 14 1980s to 2020s) in Este District, northwestern Ethiopia. The issue is suit for this magazine. Methods are dependable, and conclusions are reasonable. Suggestions are as follows:
- In figure.1, “Eeast Africa” should be changed “East Africa”.
- How to deal with different sources of data including remote-sensing data, field data and google earth, Ancillary data? What’s the use of them?
- It seems that 3.1 The accuracy assessment and 3.2 LULC classis in Este District for the last decades should be in the method part.
- This result showed a significant and essential connection between population, pre-372 cipitation, and solar radiation to land-use and land-cover classes, like other authors. What’s the significance of this study?
- The research has very small area, what’s the representative significance on LULC in other regions?
Author Response
A point-by-point response to the reviewer’s comments is attached below as a word.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
In Section 2.1. It is not necessary to introduce the natural environment and climate of the study area in detail. These information can be found on the network.
In Sections 2.2 and 2.3, there is no specific theory about the method, nor does it explain what method is suitable for use in the study area, and most of them are operated by what software. This is not in line with the writing style of the thesis.
Author Response
The suggestions have been taken into considerations and the manuscript has been modified or revised as suggested by reviewer 2. The detailed description of the study area has been reduced and the most important ones are added.
Reviewer 3 Report
The quetions have been revised or answered. It has improved well. Whereas, the English writing should be polished by special institutions.
Author Response
The English Language quality has been checked by professionals holding Ph.D. in English. However native speakers were not found. By the way, I think professionals know English rules more than native speakers. So, considering English professionals as natives may not be mistaken and it could be right to say natives checked it too indirectily.
This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.
