Publication Ethics

Vivaterra: Journal of Nature, Plants, and Animals Studies is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical responsibility in scholarly publishing. The journal follows the guidelines and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all participants — including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher — to adhere to these standards throughout the publication process.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must ensure that their submissions are original, accurate, and properly cite all sources. Any form of plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, and duplicate submissions is strictly prohibited. Authors should report their research honestly, provide sufficient methodological details for verification, and disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Authorship should reflect significant intellectual or practical contributions, and manuscripts must not be under consideration or published elsewhere.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for assessing manuscripts impartially based on their originality, scientific rigor, and relevance to the study of natural sciences. They must maintain the confidentiality of all submissions, sharing them only with parties directly involved in the review and publication process. Editors must ensure that editorial decisions are unbiased and uphold ethical standards, including the protection of research subjects and responsible reporting of findings.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to provide constructive, objective, and fair feedback to help authors improve their work. Manuscripts must be treated with strict confidentiality, and reviewers should identify potential issues such as plagiarism, data duplication, or conflicts of interest, reporting them to the editors. If a reviewer cannot provide an impartial review, they must decline the invitation.

4. Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher collaborates with the editorial team to ensure that ethical standards are consistently maintained. This includes addressing disputes, investigating cases of academic misconduct, and implementing corrective measures such as issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern in accordance with COPE guidelines.