Publication ethics and malpractice statement
Ethical Guidelines for Publication - Agriculture and Forestry
Ethical statements of the Journal Agriculture and Forestry are based on COPE’s CORE practices for all involved in publishing process.
1. Commitment to Integrity
The publication of research in Agriculture and Forestry is a cornerstone in building a trustworthy and respected body of knowledge. It is a direct reflection of the authors’ work, the institutions that support them, and the wider scientific community. The journal recognizes its responsibility to preserve integrity at every stage of the publishing process. Editorial independence is safeguarded, and advertising or commercial interests are not permitted to influence editorial decisions.
2. Responsibilities of Authors
Authors submitting manuscripts are expected to present an accurate and honest account of their work, accompanied by a balanced discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be clearly represented, and sufficient detail provided to allow replication and verification. Review articles should be precise and impartial, and opinion pieces must be clearly identified as such.
Authors must ensure that submitted work is original and free from plagiarism in all its forms, including unattributed quotations, paraphrasing, or presenting results from other researchers as their own. Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals, or publishing essentially the same research in more than one outlet, is considered unethical. Exceptions, such as secondary publications (for example, translations), may only occur with the consent of both journals and with proper citation of the primary source.
Proper acknowledgment of others’ contributions is essential. Authors must cite influential works, and any privately obtained information may only be included with written consent. Authorship should be limited to those who have significantly contributed to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All co-authors must approve the final version and agree to submission.
When required, authors should provide access to raw data for editorial review and preserve data for a reasonable period after publication.
Manuscripts must disclose whether the work involves unusual hazards, chemicals, or procedures, and provide clear identification of such risks. Studies involving humans or animals must comply with institutional and legal requirements. Authors are obliged to include a statement of approval by relevant ethics committees and to confirm that informed consent has been obtained for human subjects. The rights and privacy of participants must always be respected.
Authors must disclose all financial or personal relationships that could be perceived as influencing the results or interpretation of the research. Such disclosures may include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, grants, or other funding. Conflicts of interest should be declared at the earliest possible stage in the submission process.
5. Corrections and Accountability
Should an author discover a significant error in a published work, it is their duty to promptly inform the journal and cooperate with editors to retract or correct the paper. If editors are alerted by a third party to an error, the author must either retract or provide evidence of the correctness of the original work.
6. Editorial Responsibilities
Editors are entrusted with ensuring that publication decisions are based on scholarly merit and relevance to the journal’s scope. The importance and validity of the work, rather than the identity or background of the author, must guide decisions.
All manuscripts are treated as confidential documents, shared only with those involved in the editorial process. Editors must not use unpublished material for personal research and must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist. If competing interests are revealed after publication, editors are expected to act responsibly by issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.
In cases of ethical concern, editors will work with authors, institutions, and, if needed, other journals to ensure proper resolution. Investigations will be pursued regardless of when misconduct is discovered.
7. Role of Peer Review
Peer review is an essential component of scholarly communication and central to maintaining quality. Reviewers assist editors in decision-making and help authors improve their manuscripts.
Reviewers are expected to treat manuscripts with confidentiality and must not use privileged information for personal gain. Reviews should be impartial, constructive, and respectful, offering clear arguments rather than personal criticism.
They must identify relevant work not cited by the authors and alert editors to significant overlaps with other publications. Reviewers should decline assignments if they lack the expertise or are unable to provide a timely review, or if conflicts of interest prevent impartial evaluation.
The journal regards any form of unethical practice - plagiarism, fabrication, redundant publication, or undisclosed conflicts - as a breach of professional conduct. Allegations of misconduct are investigated seriously, and measures such as retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern will be applied when necessary to uphold the integrity of the record.
The integrity of scholarly communication depends on the collective effort of authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher. By submitting to Agriculture and Forestry, all participants affirm their commitment to honesty, transparency, and accountability, ensuring the journal remains a trusted forum for advancing research in agriculture and forestry.