Peer Review History
| Original SubmissionAugust 12, 2024 |
|---|
|
PONE-D-24-34507Simplifying drone-based aboveground carbon density measurements to support community forestryPLOS ONE Dear Dr. Newport, 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. The manuscript presents a compelling and timely study on the integration of low-cost drones into community-scale carbon monitoring projects. Both reviewers provided insightful feedback that highlights the strengths of the manuscript while identifying areas for improvement. Below, I summarize their main points and offer guidance for revisions. Both reviewers commend the relevance of the study, particularly in addressing an important gap in carbon monitoring by focusing on accessible methods for community forestry projects. To further strengthen the manuscript, consider emphasizing the broader implications of community forestry in the introduction and discussion sections. Highlighting how community-based approaches bridge conservation and local economic needs will enhance the study's impact. Reviewer 1 noted the importance of regionally calibrated allometric models and suggested elaborating on how these influence the accuracy of carbon measurements. Expanding on this point, particularly in the discussion, could provide valuable insights for readers. Additionally, consider discussing the potential for developing models tailored to different tropical forest types, as this could further enhance the applicability of the method. Reviewer 1 appreciated the discussion of barriers to community adoption of the proposed method but suggested including practical solutions, such as training programs or partnerships. Integrating specific, actionable recommendations in this section would enhance the manuscript's utility for community groups and practitioners. Reviewer 2 also highlighted the importance of transparency in addressing methodological challenges, which aligns well with this theme. Both reviewers acknowledge the thorough discussion of data processing and costs. However, Reviewer 1 suggested adding more details on optimizing these steps, particularly for communities with limited resources. Including examples of low-cost or open-source software and practical strategies for data processing could address this suggestion effectively. Reviewer 1 identified areas in the discussion section where the writing could be reorganized to improve clarity and flow. Consider revisiting this section to enhance the presentation of methodological limitations and their implications. Reviewer 1 mentioned providing specific suggestions in the manuscript, so these could serve as a helpful starting point for revisions. Reviewer 2 requested the inclusion of the variation in the mean and median for "heights of the crown" data obtained in the field (line 282) to match the reporting for drone-derived data in line 281. Including this information will improve consistency and clarity in the data presentation. Reviewer 2 noted that the resolution of all images needs improvement. Ensuring high-quality figures will enhance the overall readability and visual appeal of the manuscript. In summary, the manuscript is a valuable contribution to the field, and with minor revisions addressing the points above, it will provide even greater technical, social, and ecological insights. By incorporating the reviewers' suggestions, the study will not only advance carbon monitoring methodologies but also underscore the vital role of community forestry in achieving sustainable development goals. Please submit your revised manuscript by Jan 02 2025 11:59PM. If you will need more time than this to complete your revisions, please reply to this message or contact the journal office at plosone@plos.org . When you're ready to submit your revision, log on to https://www.editorialmanager.com/pone/ and select the 'Submissions Needing Revision' folder to locate your manuscript file. Please include the following items when submitting your revised manuscript:
If you would like to make changes to your financial disclosure, please include your updated statement in your cover letter. Guidelines for resubmitting your figure files are available below the reviewer comments at the end of this letter. If applicable, we recommend that you deposit your laboratory protocols in protocols.io to enhance the reproducibility of your results. Protocols.io assigns your protocol its own identifier (DOI) so that it can be cited independently in the future. For instructions see: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/submission-guidelines#loc-laboratory-protocols . Additionally, PLOS ONE offers an option for publishing peer-reviewed Lab Protocol articles, which describe protocols hosted on protocols.io. Read more information on sharing protocols at https://plos.org/protocols?utm_medium=editorial-email&utm_source=authorletters&utm_campaign=protocols . We look forward to receiving your revised manuscript. Kind regards, Luisa Maria Diele-Viegas, M.D. Academic Editor PLOS ONE Journal Requirements: Journal requirements: When submitting your revision, we need you to address these additional requirements. 1. Please ensure that your manuscript meets PLOS ONE's style requirements, including those for file naming. The PLOS ONE style templates can be found at https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/file?id=wjVg/PLOSOne_formatting_sample_main_body.pdf and https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/file?id=ba62/PLOSOne_formatting_sample_title_authors_affiliations.pdf 2. We note that you have indicated that there are restrictions to data sharing for this study. PLOS only allows data to be available upon request if there are legal or ethical restrictions on sharing data publicly. For more information on unacceptable data access restrictions, please see http://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/data-availability#loc-unacceptable-data-access-restrictions. Before we proceed with your manuscript, please address the following prompts: a) If there are ethical or legal restrictions on sharing a de-identified data set, please explain them in detail (e.g., data contain potentially identifying or sensitive patient information, data are owned by a third-party organization, etc.) and who has imposed them (e.g., a Research Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board, etc.). Please also provide contact information for a data access committee, ethics committee, or other institutional body to which data requests may be sent. b) If there are no restrictions, please upload the minimal anonymized data set necessary to replicate your study findings to a stable, public repository and provide us with the relevant URLs, DOIs, or accession numbers. For a list of recommended repositories, please see https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/recommended-repositories. You also have the option of uploading the data as Supporting Information files, but we would recommend depositing data directly to a data repository if possible. We will update your Data Availability statement on your behalf to reflect the information you provide. 3. We note that Figure 1 and 5 in your submission contain map/satellite images which may be copyrighted. All PLOS content is published under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which means that the manuscript, images, and Supporting Information files will be freely available online, and any third party is permitted to access, download, copy, distribute, and use these materials in any way, even commercially, with proper attribution. For these reasons, we cannot publish previously copyrighted maps or satellite images created using proprietary data, such as Google software (Google Maps, Street View, and Earth). For more information, see our copyright guidelines: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/licenses-and-copyright. We require you to either (1) present written permission from the copyright holder to publish these figures specifically under the CC BY 4.0 license, or (2) remove the figures from your submission: a. You may seek permission from the original copyright holder of Figure 1 and 5 to publish the content specifically under the CC BY 4.0 license. We recommend that you contact the original copyright holder with the Content Permission Form (http://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/file?id=7c09/content-permission-form.pdf) and the following text: “I request permission for the open-access journal PLOS ONE to publish XXX under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CCAL) CC BY 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Please be aware that this license allows unrestricted use and distribution, even commercially, by third parties. Please reply and provide explicit written permission to publish XXX under a CC BY license and complete the attached form.” Please upload the completed Content Permission Form or other proof of granted permissions as an "Other" file with your submission. In the figure caption of the copyrighted figure, please include the following text: “Reprinted from [ref] under a CC BY license, with permission from [name of publisher], original copyright [original copyright year].” b. If you are unable to obtain permission from the original copyright holder to publish these figures under the CC BY 4.0 license or if the copyright holder’s requirements are incompatible with the CC BY 4.0 license, please either i) remove the figure or ii) supply a replacement figure that complies with the CC BY 4.0 license. Please check copyright information on all replacement figures and update the figure caption with source information. If applicable, please specify in the figure caption text when a figure is similar but not identical to the original image and is therefore for illustrative purposes only. The following resources for replacing copyrighted map figures may be helpful: USGS National Map Viewer (public domain): http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth (public domain): http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/sseop/clickmap/ Maps at the CIA (public domain): https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html and https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/cia-maps-publications/index.html NASA Earth Observatory (public domain): http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ Landsat: http://landsat.visibleearth.nasa.gov/ USGS EROS (Earth Resources Observatory and Science (EROS) Center) (public domain): http://eros.usgs.gov/# Natural Earth (public domain): http://www.naturalearthdata.com/ 4. Please review your reference list to ensure that it is complete and correct. If you have cited papers that have been retracted, please include the rationale for doing so in the manuscript text, or remove these references and replace them with relevant current references. Any changes to the reference list should be mentioned in the rebuttal letter that accompanies your revised manuscript. If you need to cite a retracted article, indicate the article’s retracted status in the References list and also include a citation and full reference for the retraction notice. [Note: HTML markup is below. Please do not edit.] 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: Yes Reviewer #2: Yes ********** 2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously? Reviewer #1: Yes Reviewer #2: Yes ********** 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 ********** 4. 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 Reviewer #2: Yes ********** 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: Overall, I really liked the idea of the article and the approach adopted by the authors. The study presents an interesting and relevant proposal for incorporating low-cost drones into community-scale carbon monitoring projects. Additionally, the care taken with the analyses is evident, with a detailed description of the study area and the methods employed, which contributes to the robustness of the study. - The authors clearly presented the variability between drone-derived carbon measurements and field-based ones. I find it valuable that they pointed out the importance of choosing regionally calibrated allometric models, but it would be helpful to expand a bit more on how this influences measurement accuracy. Furthermore, developing more specific models for different types of tropical forests could indeed improve the accuracy and applicability of this approach. - One aspect that stood out was the authors' consideration of the possible barriers to applying this method by community groups. While well-founded, I believe the article could benefit from suggesting practical solutions, such as training programs or partnerships that could minimize these challenges, making the method more accessible. - The processing of data and associated costs were well-addressed in the text. However, it would be interesting to include more details on how to optimize these steps, especially for community groups that may not have access to high-performance equipment or software. - In general, the writing is clear, but some sections, especially in the discussion, could be improved for better understanding. I would suggest reorganizing some parts to enhance the flow of ideas, particularly when discussing methodological limitations and how they impact the results. I have included some specific suggestions in the manuscript to simplify the text and make certain points easier to follow. - One of the strengths of this manuscript is its focus on community-scale forestry projects and the role they play in both carbon sequestration and sustainable development. However, I believe the manuscript would benefit from emphasizing the broader relevance of community forestry both in the introduction and the discussion. Highlighting the unique role that community forestry plays in bridging conservation goals with local economic needs would make the study's rationale even stronger and more impactful, helping the reader understand the broader context of the study from the outset. In the discussion, the relevance of this method for community forestry could be further elaborated. Community groups often lack access to costly technology and advanced scientific methods, making low-cost, accessible approaches like the one presented in this manuscript especially valuable. This addition highlights the social and environmental impact of community forestry and reinforces the importance of making the research accessible and relevant to those who will benefit most from it. In summary, with minor adjustments to improve the method’s accessibility, as well as more detailed consideration of the practical challenges and benefits for communities, this work can make a strong contribution to the field. By addressing these points, the manuscript will not only advance the technical understanding of carbon monitoring but also support the social and ecological goals of community-based forest restoration. Reviewer #2: The article deals with an important theme, because it brings a viable alternative for storage of carbon in biomass above ground, in specific situations as in the case discussed in the article. The difficulties, limitations and adjustments of errors applied in the method and also possible biases were addressed which shows transparency in the process of data collection and treatment. Please put in line 282 the variation of the mean and median of the variable "heights of the crown" (data obtained in the field), as it did in line 281 (for the data obtained with the drone). The resolution of all images needs to be improved. ********** 6. PLOS authors have the option to publish the peer review history of their article (what does this mean? ). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files. If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public. 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: No Reviewer #2: No ********** [NOTE: If reviewer comments were submitted as an attachment file, they will be attached to this email and accessible via the submission site. Please log into your account, locate the manuscript record, and check for the action link "View Attachments". If this link does not appear, there are no attachment files.] While revising your submission, please upload your figure files to the Preflight Analysis and Conversion Engine (PACE) digital diagnostic tool, https://pacev2.apexcovantage.com/ . PACE helps ensure that figures meet PLOS requirements. To use PACE, you must first register as a user. Registration is free. Then, login and navigate to the UPLOAD tab, where you will find detailed instructions on how to use the tool. If you encounter any issues or have any questions when using PACE, please email PLOS at figures@plos.org . Please note that Supporting Information files do not need this step.
|
| Revision 1 |
|
Simplifying drone-based aboveground carbon density measurements to support community forestry PONE-D-24-34507R1 Dear Dr. Newport, 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. An invoice will be generated when your article is formally accepted. Please note, if your institution has a publishing partnership with PLOS and your article meets the relevant criteria, all or part of your publication costs will be covered. Please make sure your user information is up-to-date by logging into Editorial Manager at Editorial Manager® and clicking the ‘Update My Information' link at the top of the page. If you have any questions relating to publication charges, please contact our Author Billing department directly at authorbilling@plos.org. If your institution or institutions have a press office, please notify them about your upcoming paper to help maximize its impact. If they’ll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team as soon as possible -- no later than 48 hours after receiving the formal acceptance. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information, please contact onepress@plos.org. Kind regards, Luisa Maria Diele-Viegas, M.D. Academic Editor PLOS ONE 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 ********** 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 ********** 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 ********** 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 ********** 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: Dear Authors, The revisions really improved the manuscript and addressed all the key points from the first review. The expanded discussion on regionally calibrated allometric models (lines 354, 358) makes the method more accurate and applicable, and the added practical solutions, like training programs and outsourcing data collection (line 536), help make it more accessible for communities. The refinements in data processing and cost optimization (lines 513, 517) also add useful insights, especially for those working with limited resources. The adjustments in the discussion sections improved the clarity and flow, making the study easier to follow. The stronger focus on community forestry (lines 45, 49, 490) does a great job of showing the broader social and environmental impact of this approach. Overall, the manuscript is much more solid and well-rounded. ********** 7. PLOS authors have the option to publish the peer review history of their article (what does this mean? ). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files. If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public. 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: No ********** |
| Formally Accepted |
|
PONE-D-24-34507R1 PLOS ONE Dear Dr. Newport, I'm pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been deemed suitable for publication in PLOS ONE. Congratulations! Your manuscript is now being handed over to our production team. At this stage, our production department will prepare your paper for publication. This includes ensuring the following: * All references, tables, and figures are properly cited * All relevant supporting information is included in the manuscript submission, * There are no issues that prevent the paper from being properly typeset If revisions are needed, the production department will contact you directly to resolve them. If no revisions are needed, you will receive an email when the publication date has been set. At this time, we do not offer pre-publication proofs to authors during production of the accepted work. Please keep in mind that we are working through a large volume of accepted articles, so please give us a few weeks to review your paper and let you know the next and final steps. Lastly, if your institution or institutions have a press office, please let them know about your upcoming paper now to help maximize its impact. If they'll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team within the next 48 hours. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information, please contact onepress@plos.org. If we can help with anything else, please email us at customercare@plos.org. Thank you for submitting your work to PLOS ONE and supporting open access. Kind regards, PLOS ONE Editorial Office Staff on behalf of Dr. Luisa Maria Diele-Viegas Academic Editor PLOS ONE |
Open letter on the publication of peer review reports
PLOS recognizes the benefits of transparency in the peer review process. Therefore, we enable the publication of all of the content of peer review and author responses alongside final, published articles. Reviewers remain anonymous, unless they choose to reveal their names.
We encourage other journals to join us in this initiative. We hope that our action inspires the community, including researchers, research funders, and research institutions, to recognize the benefits of published peer review reports for all parts of the research system.
Learn more at ASAPbio .