added cover letter

Author: gparadis

papers/ems/Makefile

@@ -1,17 +1,23 @@
 # Simple LaTeX build with latexmk
 PAPER := paper.tex
+COVER := cover-letter.tex
 
-.PHONY: all pdf clean distclean
+.PHONY: all pdf cover clean distclean
 
-all: clean pdf
+all: clean pdf cover
 
 pdf:
 	latexmk -pdf -interaction=nonstopmode -f $(PAPER)
 
+cover:
+	latexmk -pdf -interaction=nonstopmode -f $(COVER)
+
 clean:
 	# Remove aux files but keep the final PDF
 	latexmk -c $(PAPER)
+	latexmk -c $(COVER)
 
 distclean:
 	# Remove everything, including the final PDF
-	latexmk -C $(PAPER)
+	latexmk -C $(PAPER)
+	latexmk -C $(COVER)

papers/ems/cover-letter.pdf

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+\documentclass[11pt]{article}
+\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry}
+\usepackage{setspace}
+\usepackage{hyperref}
+\setstretch{1.2}
+
+\begin{document}
+
+\noindent\textbf{October 17, 2025} \\[1em]
+\noindent Editor-in-Chief \\Environmental Modelling \& Software \\Elsevier
+
+\bigskip
+
+\noindent Dear Editor-in-Chief, 
+
+\medskip
+
+I am pleased to submit the manuscript entitled ``WS3: An open-source Python framework for integrated simulation and optimization of forest landscape and wood supply systems'' for consideration in \emph{Environmental Modelling \& Software}. The paper introduces a fully open, solver-agnostic framework that combines modular simulation, Model~I optimization, carbon accounting via libCBM, and spatial allocation into reproducible workflows aimed at forest-sector decision support. We believe the manuscript fits the journal's scope on modelling tools that enable transparent and auditable environmental planning and policy analysis.
+
+WS3 addresses a persistent gap in forest estate modelling: professional scheduling platforms remain proprietary or siloed, whereas research tools often lack integration with carbon accounting and reproducible pipelines. Our contribution documents the architecture, mathematical formulation, and case studies that demonstrate how WS3 streamlines harvest scheduling, carbon analysis, and spatial reporting using open data and scripted workflows. The manuscript also details impact, reusability, and community uptake, aligning directly with EMS expectations for software descriptions that emphasise reproducibility and transparency.
+
+The work is original, has not been published previously, and is not under consideration elsewhere. The author has approved the submitted version. Data, code, and reproduction assets are openly archived on Zenodo and GitHub, and highlights, graphical abstract, and other supporting files accompany this submission. Potential reviewers familiar with forest decision support, carbon accounting, and open-source environmental modelling could include Kevin Boston (University of Arkansas at Monticello), Pete Bettinger (University of Georgia), Marc McDill (Pennsylvania State University), and Mathieu Fortin (Natural Resources Canada).
+
+Thank you for considering this submission. We look forward to the opportunity to contribute to \emph{Environmental Modelling \& Software}. Please do not hesitate to contact me if additional information is required.
+
+\bigskip
+
+\noindent Sincerely, \\[0.75em]
+\noindent Gregory Paradis \\Faculty of Forestry \\University of British Columbia \\2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada \\Email: \href{mailto:gregory.paradis@ubc.ca}{gregory.paradis@ubc.ca}
+
+\end{document}