PONE-D-23-44049Is there a relationship between forest fires and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon?PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Andrade Lima,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

One of the reviewers find the paper good enough, while we were waiting for other revisions that never materialize. Then I inspected the paper by myself and agree with the one reviewer's points. Specifically, please you need to clarify better the findings and statistics considered. Also, please give clear responses to the general  points raised by the reviewer.

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PLOS ONE

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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

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

Reviewer #1: N/A

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

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Reviewer #1: No

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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

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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: It's understandable to question the need for repeating studies, especially when there are existing investigations on a similar topic. Conducting research on the same or a related subject can serve various purposes, including:

Verification and Validation: Replicating studies allows researchers to validate and verify the results of previous research, contributing to the robustness of scientific findings.

Contextual Adaptation: Environmental and geographical contexts vary, and what holds true in one region may not necessarily apply directly to another. Replicating studies in different locations can help understand how findings might be influenced by specific conditions.

Temporal Changes: Over time, environmental conditions, land use patterns, and other factors may change. Repeating studies at different points in time helps capture these changes and assess how they impact the relationship between variables.

Methodological Refinement: Researchers may use similar methodologies but with improvements or modifications to address limitations identified in previous studies, enhancing the precision and reliability of the results.

Novel Contributions: While a study may have a similar overarching theme, the specific research questions, methodologies, and objectives might differ. New studies can bring novel perspectives, insights, or data that contribute to the cumulative knowledge in the field.

Regarding the specific studies you mentioned (DOI: 10.1007/s00267-015-0447-7 and DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2011.10.013), it's essential to consider the context, objectives, and focus of your research. If your study aims to address specific aspects or nuances not covered by existing research, it can still make a valuable contribution to the scientific literature. Additionally, discussions with colleagues or experts in the field can help refine your research questions and approach, ensuring that your work adds meaningful insights to the existing body of knowledge.

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Reviewer #1: No

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Is there a relationship between forest fires and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon?

PONE-D-23-44049R1

Dear Dr. Andrade Lima,

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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Kind regards,

Daniel Capella Zanotta

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

After a few tries, I couldn't have feedback from the previous reviewer about the revision made by the authors, therefore I did the validation of the revision by my own.

I comply with the replies provided by the authors since it is soundness. Few changes were made in the manuscript, but the reviewer indeed did not require many substantial ones.

Then, I proceed with the acceptance.

Reviewers' comments:

Noone