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Author Guidelines

Contents

  1. Submission Portal

    All manuscripts must be submitted electronically through our online submission system at: https://www.editorialmanager.com/forsoc/default.aspx

  2. Types of Manuscripts

    Forest and Society welcomes submissions in the following categories:
    • Original Research Articles: Present novel research findings. Maximum 10,000 words (excluding tables, figures, and references). Must follow a standard structure (Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, etc.).
    • Review Papers: Synthesize and critically evaluate existing literature on a specific topic. Can include letters from/to the Editor. Word limit is flexible but should be concise.
    • Policy Forum: Short, focused pieces (1,500 - 7,000 words) from researchers, practitioners, or policymakers to highlight emerging trends, critical issues, and shape future agendas in environment-society relations in Southeast Asia.
    • Science Critiques: Offer a critical analysis (1,500 - 7,000 words) of prior research published in high-impact journals, both within and beyond our own publication.
    • Notes from the Field: Reflective narratives (1,500 - 7,000 words) sharing fieldwork experiences, methodological challenges, and ethical considerations in Southeast Asian contexts.
    • Methodological Engagement: Articles (1,500 - 7,000 words) exploring innovative, interdisciplinary research methods and approaches to complex socio-ecological problems.
    • Book Reviews: Critical reviews (800 - 2,000 words) of new books, software, or videos relevant to the journal's scope.

  3. Manuscript Preparation & Structure

    Manuscripts should be prepared in a word processor (Microsoft Word)

    A. For Initial Submission (to Editorial Manager):

    You will be required to upload TWO separate files:

    1. Disclosed Manuscript (Main File): This is the complete manuscript for review. It must include:
    • Cover Letter
    • Title Page: Full title; full author names and affiliations (department, institution, country); ORCID (if available); email addresses; clear indication of the corresponding author.
    • Abstract (max 300 words) and Keywords (max 8, separated by semicolons ;)
    • Main Text (structured according to article type, e.g., Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion)
    • Author Contributions (e.g., "X.X. and Y.Y. conceived the study; X.X. collected data; Y.Y. analyzed data; all authors wrote and reviewed the manuscript.")
    • Conflicts of Interest (or a statement declaring none)
    • Acknowledgments (including funding sources)
    • Declaration of Generative AI Use (if applicable, stating how AI tools were used in the preparation of the work)
    • References
    • Tables and Figures (embedded within the text for review convenience)
    • Appendices (if any)
    2. Anonymized Manuscript (Blinded File): A version prepared for double-blind peer review. Remove all author-identifying information, including:
    • Names and affiliations from the title page and cover letter.
    • Any identifying text in acknowledgments (e.g., funding grant numbers that can be traced back to authors).

    B. General Formatting Rules for the Main Text:

    • Use line numbering and 1.5 or double spacing.
    • Number sections and subsections clearly, using a maximum of three levels (e.g., 1, 1.1, 1.1.1).
    • Title: Clear, specific, and without uncommon abbreviations (maximum of 16 words)
    • Abstract & Keywords: See section 3.A.
    • Body Text Structure: While many empirical research articles follow a conventional structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion), Forest and Society is flexible and welcomes structures appropriate to the discipline and nature of the submission. Authors are encouraged to use logical section headings that best represent their work's narrative flow.

      Common structural elements include:

      • A section establishing the context, problem statement, literature review, theoretical framework, and research objectives/questions.
      • A section detailing the research design, methodology, study area, data collection, and analysis procedures (e.g., Methodology, Research Design, Theoretical Approach, Case Description).
      • A section presenting the core findings, analysis, or case study results (e.g., Findings, Analysis, Empirical Results, Case Study Analysis).
      • A section that interprets the findings, discusses their implications, relates them to broader debates, and draws conclusions (e.g., Discussion, Synthesis, Implications, Conclusion).

      The key is that the manuscript's organization is logical, clear, and guides the reader effectively from the research question to the conclusions.

    • Conclusions: A dedicated concluding section is expected. It should synthesize the main arguments, articulate the study's contributions to knowledge and practice (policy, methodological, etc.), and may suggest avenues for future research.
    • Equations: Use an equation editor (not images). Number consecutively as (1), (2).
    • Units: Use metric units (SI).

  4. Tables and Figures

    • Cite all tables and figures in the text (e.g., Table 1, Figure 2).
    • Tables: Place title above the table. Use only horizontal lines. Avoid vertical lines.
    • Figures: Place title/caption below the figure. Ensure all text is legible at publication size. High-resolution images (min. 300 dpi) are required upon acceptance.
    • In appendices, label as Table A1, Figure A2, etc.

  5. References

    • Use the APA (American Psychological Association) 7th Edition style consistently.
    • In-text citation: (Author, Year) or Author (Year).
    • Reference List: Must include all works cited. List alphabetically by first author's surname.
    • DOI: Inclusion of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for journal articles is mandatory where available.
    • We encourage the author(s) to use reference management software (EndNote, Mendeley, Zotero, etc.) to ensure consistency.
    • Examples:
      • Journal Article: Lastname, A. A., & Lastname, B. B. (Year). Article title: Subtitle. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page-Page. https://doi.org/xxxxx
      • Book: Lastname, A. A. (Year). Book Title: Subtitle (Edition). Publisher.
      • Webpage: Lastname, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL

  6. Ethical Policies

    Forest and Society adheres to the highest standards of publication ethics. For our complete policies, please visit: https://scholarhub.unhas.ac.id/fs/policies.html

    • Authorship: All listed authors must have made significant intellectual contributions to the work. For detailed criteria, see our Authorship Policy.
    • Originality & Plagiarism: Submissions must be original and not under consideration elsewhere. Forest and Society uses plagiarism detection software (Turnitin/iThenticate). Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable.
    • Conflicts of Interest: All authors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal conflicts that could influence the work. See our Conflict of Interest Policy
    • Funding: All sources of funding must be declared in the Acknowledgments section, following our Acknowledgments Policy.
    • AI Disclosure: The use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) must be transparently declared, specifying their role in the research/writing process. Authors are solely responsible for the content of their manuscript. Details are in our AI Policy.

  7. Publication Process & Fees

    • Process: The standard workflow is: Submission > Editorial Check > Peer Review (Double-Blind) > Decision > Revision > Acceptance > Copyediting > Proofing > Publication. Authors are expected to respond to reviewer comments and submit revised manuscripts in a timely manner. For a detailed description, see our Peer Review Process page.
    • Article Processing Charge (APC): Information regarding any applicable publication fees, waivers, and payment procedures can be found in our APC Policy.
    • Final Files: Upon acceptance, the editorial office will request final production files (high-resolution figures, editable text file).