Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement
1. General Principles
Forestry Ideas is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. The journal follows the Core Practices and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
All parties involved in the publication process – authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher – are expected to adhere to these ethical standards and to ensure the integrity of the scholarly record.
2. Duties of Editors
Editors are responsible for:
- Evaluating manuscripts solely on the basis of their scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal's scope
- Ensuring a fair and unbiased peer review process
- Maintaining confidentiality of submitted manuscripts
- Avoiding conflicts of interest and recusing themselves where necessary
- Taking appropriate action in cases of suspected ethical misconduct
Editors have full authority to accept or reject a manuscript based on its academic quality and compliance with ethical standards.
3. Duties of Authors
Authors must:
- Submit only original work that has not been published or submitted elsewhere
- Ensure that all listed authors have made significant contributions and have approved the final version of the manuscript
- Properly acknowledge the work of others and cite relevant sources
- Provide accurate data and avoid fabrication, falsification, or manipulation
- Disclose any conflicts of interest and sources of funding
- Ensure compliance with ethical standards for research involving humans, animals, or sensitive data
Authors are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of their work.
4. Duties of Reviewers
Reviewers are expected to:
- Provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations
- Treat manuscripts as confidential documents
- Identify relevant published work not cited by the authors
- Declare any conflicts of interest and decline review if necessary
- Refrain from using unpublished material for personal advantage
5. Publication Misconduct
Forestry Ideas does not tolerate any form of publication misconduct, including:
- Plagiarism
- Data fabrication or falsification
- Duplicate or redundant publication
- Inappropriate authorship
All submissions are screened using specialised plagiarism detection software. Suspected cases of misconduct are handled in accordance with COPE guidelines and may result in rejection, retraction, or notification of the authors' institutions.
6. Corrections and Retractions
In cases of significant errors, ethical breaches, or unreliable findings, the journal will publish:
- Corrections (errata)
- Retractions
- Expressions of concern
Retractions are clearly identified and linked to the original article and are issued in accordance with COPE recommendations.
7. Conflicts of Interest
All participants in the publication process must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the work.
- Authors must declare conflicts of interest and funding sources
- Reviewers must decline evaluation where a conflict exists
- Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts arise
8. Complaints and Appeals
Authors may submit appeals against editorial decisions or complaints regarding the editorial process. All complaints are handled in a fair, transparent, and timely manner, following COPE principles.
9. Data Integrity and Availability
Authors are expected to ensure that the data supporting their findings are accurate and reliable. Where appropriate, authors should make data available to the scientific community and provide access upon reasonable request.