Hybrid Economic-Environment-Ecology Land Planning Model under Uncertainty—A Case Study in Mekong Delta

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors propose an interval probabilistic fuzzy programming model to simulate land use allocation in Mekong Delta. The method used in here is innovative and it provides a very good case study on this research field. The paper is interesting and the manuscript is written in high quality. However, some revisions are still required:

1. Please explain the similarities and differences of the key terms “land use planning” and “land use allocation” in this manuscript. These two terms are arbitrarily used in this manuscript and they need to be distinguished.
2. “Interval probabilistic fuzzy” and “land use allocation” are suggested to be the keywords to replace Environmental, Ecological and Economic.
3. 115: “However, the current research on LUA in the delta region is relatively few.” As the reviewer can easily find several research papers on LUA in delta region, such as Liu et al. (2012) in the Pearl River Delta region; Zhang et al. (2020) in Yangtze River Delta region; Lu et al. (2014) in Yangtze River Delta region. Please add more literature review to support this argument.
4. The criticisms of the shortcoming for the existing models about uncertainties in L.90 to L.100 need some literatures cited to support.
5. 117: The comparison with the previous LUA models need some literatures to support.
6. Figure 2. Framework of the IPF-LUA model is the core of the Section 3. Please give more explanations for the framework in section 3.7. For example: How to integrate IPF-Model and Land-use model? How to divide the mode into Upper bound sub-model and Lower-bound sub-model?
7. The paragraph in P. 11 (L. 353-393) is tediously long. Please rewrite and divide into two or three paragraphs.
8. Section 5. Conclusion: Please add some more descriptions about the future applications of IPF-LUA in land use planning.
9. Are there some research limitations in this study?
10. Do you have some recommendations for future research to give in the section of Conclusion?

Author Response

We have carefully studied the your comments and detailed suggestions. According to these suggestions, we have carefully revised the original manuscript. All revised portions are marked in red in the resubmitted manuscript that we submit for your kind consideration.

The authors propose an interval probabilistic fuzzy programming model to simulate land use allocation in Mekong Delta.The method used in here is innovative and it provides a very good case study on this research field.The paper is interesting and the manuscript is written in high quality. However, some revisions are still required:

1. Please explain the similarities and differences of the key terms “land use planning" and "land use allocation" in this manuscript. These two terms are arbitrarily used in this manuscript and they need to be distinguished.

Response: Thank you for your questions and comments. The notes we added to the manuscript are as follows: “Land use planning is a comprehensive economic and technical measure for the development, utilization, governance and protection of land resources in time and space according to the requirements of economic development in the future and regional development conditions. Its purpose is to promote the sustainable land use. Among them, land use allocation (LUA) is the core content and key component of land use planning”. Please see this revised text in lines 34-39.

Reference:

1. Arata, L.; Diluiso, F.; Guastella, G.; Pareglio, S.; Sckokai, P., Willingness to pay for alternative features of land-use policies: the case of the lake Garda region. Land Use Pol. 2021, 100, 10.
2. Zheng, W. W.; Ke, X. L.; Xiao, B. Y.; Zhou, T., Optimising land use allocation to balance ecosystem services and economic benefits - A case study in Wuhan, China. J. Environ. Manage. 2019, 248, 10.

2. "Interval probabilistic fuzzy" and "land use allocation" are suggested to be the keywords to replace Environmental, Ecological and Economic.

Response: Thank you for your advice. We have made corresponding modifications in the manuscript.

3. 115: "However, the current research on LUA in the delta region is relatively few." As the reviewer can easily find several research papers on LUA in delta region, such as Liu et al. (2012) in the Pearl River Delta region; Zhang et al.(2020) in Yangtze River Delta region; Lu et al.(2014) in Yangtze River Delta region. Please add more literature review to support this argument.

Response: Thank you for your questions and comments. This is our slip of the pen. Our original intention is to express that there is little research on LUA in the Mekong Delta. (In the Web of science, we searched the Mekong River Delta and land use optimization allocation as parallel topics, and the results showed that there were only 6 relevant literatures). We amended the manuscript to read: "However, the current research on LUA in the Mekong Delta region is relatively few." Please see this revised text in lines 124.

4. The criticisms of the shortcoming for the existing models about uncertainties in L.90 to L.100 need some literatures cited to support.

Response: Thank you for your questions and comments. We have cited some literatures to the manuscript to support the above view. Please see this revised text in lines 111.

Reference:

1. Zhou, M., An interval fuzzy chance-constrained programming model for sustainable urban land-use planning and land use policy analysis. Land Use Pol. 2015, 42, 479-491.
2. Ou, G. L.; Tan, S. K.; Zhou, M.; Lu, S. S.; Tao, Y. H.; Zhang, Z.; Zhang, L.; Yan, D. P.; Guan, X. L.; Wu, G., An interval chance-constrained fuzzy modeling approach for supporting land-use planning and eco-environment planning at a watershed level. J. Environ. Manage. 2017, 204, 651-666.
3. Ma, S. H.; Wen, Z. Z., Optimization of land use structure to balance economic benefits and ecosystem services under uncertainties: A case study in Wuhan, China. J. Clean Prod. 2021, 311, 16.
4. Rao, Y. X.; Zhou, M.; Ou, G. L.; Dai, D. Y.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, Z.; Nie, X.; Yang, C., Integrating ecosystem services value for sustainable land-use management in semi-arid region. J. Clean Prod. 2018, 186, 662-672.

5. 117:The comparison with the previous LUA models need some literatures to support.

Response: Thank you for your questions and comments. We have cited some literatures to the manuscript to support the above view. Please see this revised text in lines 123.

Reference:

1. Yuen, K. W.; Hanh, T. T.; Quynh, V. D.; Switzer, A. D.; Teng, P.; Lee, J. S. H., Interacting effects of land-use change and natural hazards on rice agriculture in the Mekong and Red River deltas in Vietnam. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 2021, 21, (5), 1473-1493.
2. Luo, D.; Liang, L. W.; Wang, Z. B.; Chen, L. K.; Zhang, F. M., Exploration of coupling effects in the Economy-Society-Environment system in urban areas: Case study of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration. Ecol. Indic. 2021, 128, 14.
3. Dou, P. F.; Zuo, S. D.; Ren, Y.; Rodriguez, M. J.; Dai, S. Q., Refined water security assessment for sustainable water management: A case study of 15 key cities in the Yangtze River Delta, China. J. Environ. Manage. 2021, 290, 13.
4. Zhou, M.; Wang, X.; Lin, X. T.; Yang, S.; Zhang, J.; Chen, J., Automobile exhaust particles retention capacity assessment of two common garden plants in different seasons in the Yangtze River Delta using open-top chambers. Environ. Pollut. 2020, 263, 9.

6. Figure 2.Framework of the IPF-LUA model is the core of the Section 3.Please give more explanations for the framework in section 3.7.For example: How to integrate IPF-Model and Land-use model? How to divide the mode into Upper bound sub-model and Lower-bound sub-model?

Response: Thank you for your questions and comments. Limited by the length of this paper, we present the construction framework and solution steps of IPF-LUA in Appendix A. Please see this revised text in lines 592-655.

7. The paragraph in P. 11 (L. 353-393) is tediously long. Please rewrite and divide into two or three paragraphs.

Response: Thank you for your questions and comments. We have made corresponding modifications in the manuscript. Please see this revised text in lines 407-409.

8. Section 5. Conclusion: Please add some more descriptions about the future applications of IPF-LUA in land use planning.

Response: Thank you for your questions and comments. Please see this revised text in lines 543-550.

9. Are there some research limitations in this study?And 10. Do you have some recommendations for future research to give in the section of Conclusion?

Response: Thank you for your questions and comments. We have been committed to improving the IPF-LUA model for a long time. During the research and design process, we have found the limitations of this model, and have been formulating and designing corresponding improvement schemes. Please see this revised text in lines 563-574.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

In the context of the numerical growth of the population and its needs, land use is one of the great challenges of today's society, along with urbanization, pollution, etc. In this context, this work "Hybrid economic-environment-ecology land planning model under uncertainty—a case study in Mekong Delta" represents a significant progress in the field of science, a continuation of the efforts made by other researchers to optimize the rational use of the territory. Given the topicality of the research, the methodology used, the logical sequence and the results obtained support the publication of the article entitled "Hybrid economic-environment-ecology land planning model under uncertainty—a case study in Mekong Delta" in its current form, with minor changes, a form imposed by the requirements of the journal.

On this occasion, I congratulate the research team for their concerns and achievements.

Good luck!

Author Response

We appreciate your comments. Next, we will further improve the article and continue to improve the model. I wish you every success in your work.