Publication Ethic Statement

Journal of Environmental Law, Management, and Governance is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. The journal follows the principles and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and applies ethical standards to all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

The journal is committed to ensuring that all manuscripts are evaluated and published through a transparent, fair, and responsible editorial process.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts are original works and have not been published previously or submitted simultaneously to another journal.

Authors must:

Ensure that the manuscript is based on accurate and reliable research.
Present research methods, data, and findings honestly and transparently.
Properly acknowledge and cite all sources, ideas, data, and works belonging to others.
Avoid plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, and inappropriate manipulation of research findings.
Ensure that all individuals listed as authors have made substantial contributions to the work and have approved the final version of the manuscript.
Obtain appropriate permission for the use of copyrighted material where necessary.
Disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the research or its interpretation.
Ensure that manuscripts comply with applicable ethical requirements, including research involving human participants, animals, communities, or sensitive environmental resources.
Promptly notify the editor if a significant error is discovered in a published article and cooperate in correcting or retracting the article when necessary.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for maintaining the integrity, fairness, and quality of the editorial process.

Editors must:

Evaluate manuscripts based on their academic quality, relevance, originality, and contribution without discrimination based on authors' gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, institutional affiliation, or other personal characteristics.
Maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and information obtained during the editorial process.
Select appropriate and qualified reviewers based on the subject and methodology of the manuscript.
Ensure that editorial decisions are based on scholarly merit and the journal's focus and scope.
Identify and address potential conflicts of interest.
Prevent manuscripts from being used for personal, professional, or financial advantage.
Take appropriate action when ethical concerns, allegations of misconduct, plagiarism, or conflicts of interest arise.
Follow applicable COPE guidance when handling suspected publication misconduct, corrections, retractions, or other ethical issues.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play an important role in maintaining the quality and integrity of published research.

Reviewers must:

Conduct reviews objectively, constructively, and within the agreed timeframe.
Maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and not disclose or use unpublished information for personal or professional purposes.
Declare any potential conflict of interest before accepting a review assignment.
Decline the review if they do not have sufficient expertise or cannot provide an impartial assessment.
Identify relevant published work that has not been properly cited by the authors.
Inform the editor of any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, falsification, or other forms of academic misconduct.
Provide clear and evidence-based comments that assist authors in improving their manuscripts.

4. Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

The journal does not tolerate plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, inappropriate citation practices, manipulation of peer review, or other forms of research and publication misconduct.

Manuscripts may be screened for plagiarism or substantial similarity before or during the editorial process. When suspected misconduct is identified, the journal will investigate the matter in accordance with applicable COPE guidelines and flowcharts.

Depending on the severity and circumstances of the case, the journal may reject the manuscript, request clarification, issue a correction, retract a published article, or take other appropriate actions.

5. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any financial, personal, professional, institutional, or other relationships that could influence the research, review, or editorial decision.

Editors will manage manuscripts involving potential conflicts of interest by assigning appropriate alternative editors or reviewers where necessary.

6. Authorship and Contribution

Authorship must be based on substantial contributions to the conception or design of the study, acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data; participation in drafting or critically revising the manuscript; approval of the final version; and accountability for the integrity of the work.

Individuals who do not meet authorship criteria but have provided assistance may be appropriately acknowledged.

Any request to add, remove, or change authorship after submission must be justified and approved by all authors. The editor may request additional documentation when necessary.

7. Ethical Approval

Research involving human participants, animals, personal data, communities, or other ethically sensitive subjects must comply with applicable ethical standards and regulations. Where required, authors must provide information regarding ethical approval, informed consent, permits, or other relevant authorizations.

Research involving environmental resources, protected areas, biodiversity, indigenous or local communities, and other sensitive environmental contexts should comply with applicable laws, regulations, and ethical requirements.

8. Corrections and Retractions

The journal recognizes its responsibility to maintain the integrity of the published scholarly record.

When errors are identified after publication, the journal may publish a correction, clarification, expression of concern, or retraction depending on the nature and seriousness of the issue.

Retractions may be considered when there is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable, the research involved serious misconduct, the article contains substantial plagiarism, or other circumstances significantly compromise the integrity of the publication.

Corrections and retractions will be clearly identified and linked to the original article to preserve the transparency of the scholarly record.

9. Complaints and Appeals

Authors and other stakeholders may submit complaints or appeals concerning editorial decisions, publication procedures, ethical issues, or alleged misconduct.

Complaints and appeals will be handled fairly, confidentially, and independently where possible. The journal will review such matters in accordance with its editorial policies and relevant COPE recommendations.

10. Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are based on the scholarly quality, originality, relevance, methodological soundness, and contribution of manuscripts. Editorial decisions must not be influenced by commercial interests, political considerations, personal relationships, or other inappropriate external pressures.

The publisher supports the editorial independence of the journal and does not interfere with academic editorial decisions.

11. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Authors who use artificial intelligence or AI-assisted tools during manuscript preparation are responsible for transparently disclosing their use where required by the journal's policy.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors because they cannot take responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, originality, or ethical aspects of the manuscript.

Authors remain fully responsible for the content of their manuscripts, including any material generated or assisted by AI tools, and must verify the accuracy of such content and ensure that appropriate attribution and citation requirements are met.

The use of AI tools to manipulate data, fabricate results, generate misleading information, or conceal authorship or research misconduct is prohibited.

12. Publisher's Commitment

The publisher is committed to supporting the journal in maintaining academic integrity, transparency, and responsible publication practices. The publisher will cooperate with the editors and relevant parties in addressing ethical concerns and maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

Journal of Environmental Law, Management, and Governance adopts the ethical principles and best practices promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and may refer to relevant COPE guidelines and flowcharts when addressing publication ethics and research misconduct.