PONE-D-22-03075Towards an inclusive nature conservation initiative: preliminary assessment of stakeholders’ representations about the Makay region, MadagascarPLOS ONE

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(This research was funded by the MSH-Sud (Maison des Sciences de l’Homme) through the Makay-Mada project, and by the research laboratories SENS (UMR Knowledge, Environment and Societies), PALOC (UMR Local Heritage, Environment and Globalization), DIAL (UMR LEDa, DIAL) and Art-Dev (UMR Actors, Resources and Territories in Development). We would also like to thank all the stakeholders who accepted to be interviewed, and in particular Bernard Forgeau for its valuable help throughout this study.)

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Additional Editor Comments:

I congratulate the authors for the manuscript, that, if suggestions are taken carefully, is suitable for publication Please follow the suggestions by reviewer 1, especially on methods, that are crucial for being considered for publication. The manuscript is relevant and innovative, and the authors should review carefully the suggestion to increase the potential of the manuscript for a bigger audience. Also, provide the best resolution possible for your figures in the final submission. Despite being considered a minor revision, I considered it a major revision since the comments are precise to say that the methods need a substantial revision, with the need to adjust the following sections.

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Partly

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: The paper fits well with the aims of the journal and the targeted audience, providing a very interesting (and useful) background on the need to protect a vulnerable area in Madagascar, while considering the added-value of social representation to ensure the viability of area conservation. The introduction provides enough background on protected areas and the need to be analysed considering SES, but also calls for action. However, Section 2, on Material and Methods, needs to be reshaped. Firstly, I suggest to exclude the "presentation of the Malay region" as a new section clearly focused on the case study, and providing more details on the challenges and risks if the area is not protected. Following, I suggest to organize the rest of the sub-divisions in just two main sub-sections: Data collection and Data analysis. Furthermore, I think that sub-section 2.3 on Ethical approval should not be included in this section in the current detail, as the journal asked for ethical issues when submitting and as a separate issue. Regarding data collection, I was wondering if 32 respondents are a validated sample to ensure that all confronted perspectives are consulted. For example, you specified their profile as researchers, members of NGOs (civil society) and tour operators... but what about managers? and public administration or government? They have no relevance in the decision-making process of the PA creation? The reasons to identify and select respondents must be clearly extended. Likewise, are interviews recorded? How about the transcription process? Does the speeches being codified or organized in some way to highlight shared views among respondents? In p. 18, line 245 it is presented a double focus on anthropogenic fires and provisioning ecoservices, but why both issues are considered to be focused in? The results section seems to identify both issues, so they are a result or a previous selection criteria to analyse data from the interviews?

The results section are clear. I just suggest to edit the title of sub-section 3.2 currently focus on ambiguity but to cognitive maps as the content is focused on that. Sub-section 3.3 seems a social-learning process so maybe the title "different perspectives" is so general... In the discussion, sub-section 4.3 provides recommendations more than implications. The conclusions are focused on and reflect the obtained results.

Reviewer #2: The manuscript is very well written and presented. It tackles a central issue in biodiversity conservation: how to deal with ambiguity and competing perceptions and views about the social and ecological systems submitted to conservation actions. To my knowledge, the authors present an innovative method combining the analysis of mental models and social representation, providing results and insights that form a basis for further research and for the improvement of conservation strategies in the Makay region. One of the main caveats, the fact that local people were not included in the study, is recognized and discussed. Results are presented with the help of well thought out figures and are adequately interpreted and discussed. my recommendation is to accept this manuscript for publication.

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Reviewer #1: Yes: Sandra Ricart

Reviewer #2: No

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Towards an inclusive nature conservation initiative: preliminary assessment of stakeholders’ representations about the Makay region, Madagascar

PONE-D-22-03075R1

Dear Dr. Fromont,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Randeep Singh

Academic Editor

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Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. If the authors have adequately addressed your comments raised in a previous round of review and you feel that this manuscript is now acceptable for publication, you may indicate that here to bypass the “Comments to the Author” section, enter your conflict of interest statement in the “Confidential to Editor” section, and submit your "Accept" recommendation.

Reviewer #1: All comments have been addressed

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2. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Yes

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3. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

**********

4. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #1: Yes

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5. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Reviewer #1: Yes

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6. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: Thank you for considering my suggestions and providing a very extensive answer to each point. Congratulations for a very interesting work.

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Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy.

Reviewer #1: Yes: Sandra Ricart

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