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Publication Ethics

Journal of Ecologies: Plural Worlds, Relational Ecologies, Regenerative Futures is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. All parties involved in the publication process—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to adhere to ethical principles that ensure transparency, accountability, and scholarly rigor. The journal follows internationally recognized ethical guidelines, including those established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Ethical Principles

The journal upholds principles of honesty, originality, fairness, and respect in all aspects of scholarly publishing. Manuscripts must represent accurate, original research and contribute meaningfully to academic discourse.

2. Duties of Authors

Authors are expected to:

  • Submit original work that has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
  • Ensure proper acknowledgment of all sources and avoid plagiarism in any form.
  • Present data accurately without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation.
  • Disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Ensure that all listed authors have made significant contributions to the research.
  • Respect ethical considerations related to research involving human participants, communities, and environments, including appropriate consent where applicable.
  • Promptly notify the editor of any significant errors discovered after publication and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions.

3. Duties of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • Making publication decisions based on the manuscript’s scholarly merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
  • Ensuring a fair, unbiased, and confidential review process.
  • Evaluating submissions without discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, or political beliefs.
  • Maintaining confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
  • Avoiding conflicts of interest and managing them appropriately when they arise.
  • Taking appropriate action in response to ethical concerns, including corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.

4. Duties of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations.
  • Maintain confidentiality of the review process.
  • Identify relevant work that has not been cited by the authors.
  • Inform the editor of any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Refrain from using privileged information obtained through the review process for personal advantage.

5. Research Ethics and Responsibility

Given the journal’s engagement with diverse ecological contexts, including Indigenous and place-based knowledge, authors are expected to:

  • Respect local knowledge systems, cultural practices, and community rights.
  • Ensure ethical engagement with communities, including appropriate permissions and acknowledgment.
  • Avoid extractive research practices and promote responsible knowledge production.

6. Publication Integrity

The journal strictly prohibits:

  • Plagiarism and self-plagiarism
  • Data fabrication and falsification
  • Duplicate or redundant publication
  • Citation manipulation

All manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection tools prior to review.

7. Complaints and Appeals

The journal provides a mechanism for authors to appeal editorial decisions. Complaints regarding ethical issues will be handled seriously and in accordance with established procedures to ensure fairness and transparency.

8. Corrections and Retractions

When necessary, the journal will publish corrections, clarifications, retractions, or apologies to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.