Publication Frequency

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research is published 2 (two) times every year in March and September.

Peer Review Process

The articles submitted to ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research will be processed through a formatting review by the editor and independently reviewed by two peer reviewers. The review process applies Single Blind Method. Decisions from reviewers are a top priority for editors to make decisions. The time required by reviewers to complete a round review process is four weeks. Generally, prospective reviewers will be selected based on their reputation in the suitability of their expertise. The decision for publication, amendment, or rejection is based on their reports/recommendation. After being reviewed, there will be four kinds of editor decision based on reviewers’ recommendation:

Articles Accept : Submissions will be accepted without revision.

Revision Required : Submissions will be accepted after minor changes have been made. Articles sent back to the author for revision must be returned to the editor without delay. Revised articles returned more than 20 days will be considered as new submissions. Revised articles can be submitted to the editorial via the account on OJS or the official ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research.

Resubmit for re-review : The application must be reworked, but with significant changes, after which a second round of review is conducted.

Rejected : The submission will not be published in the journal.

The article published in ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research was previously reviewed by two reviewers prior to publication. The decision to accept the article to be published is within the authority of the editor in chief based on the recommendation of the reviewer. Articles that have been declared accepted and have been layout will be published in In Progress number in the next number before the regular number is published according to the schedule so that it can be indexed and tested immediately.

Publication Ethics

[Based on Elsevier recommendations and COPE's Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors]

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication

The publication of an article in the peer-reviewed journals published by Environmental Research Center of Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta is process of permanent knowledge improvement. It is a direct reflection of the quality of the work of the authors and the institutions that support them. Peer-reviewed articles support and embody the scientific method. It is therefore important to agree upon standards of expected ethical behaviour for all parties involved in the act of publishing: the author, the journal editor, the peer reviewer, the publisher and the society of society-owned or sponsored journals.

Environmental Research Center of Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta takes their duties of guardianship over all stages of publishing extremely seriously and we recognise our ethical and other responsibilities.

We are committed to ensuring that advertising, reprint or other commercial revenue has no impact or influence on editorial decisions. In addition, Editorial Board will assist in communications with other journals and/or publishers where this is useful to editors.

Duties of Authors

Reporting standards

Authors of reports of original research should present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately in the paper. A paper should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable. Review and professional publication articles should also be accurate and objective, and editorial 'opinion' works should be clearly identified as such.

Data access and retention

Authors may be asked to provide the raw data in connection with a paper for editorial review, and should in any event be prepared to retain such data for a reasonable time after publication.

Originality and plagiarism

The authors should ensure that they have written entirely original works, and if the authors have used the work and/or words of others, that this has been appropriately cited or quoted. Plagiarism takes many forms, from 'passing off' another's paper as the author's own paper, to copying or paraphrasing substantial parts of another's paper (without attribution), to claiming results from research conducted by others. Plagiarism in all its forms constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.

Multiple, redundant or concurrent publication

An author should not in general publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable. In general, an author should not submit for consideration in another journal a previously published paper.

Acknowledgement of sources

Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported work. Information obtained privately, as in conversation, correspondence, or discussion with third parties, must not be used or reported without explicit, written permission from the source. Information obtained in the course of confidential services, such as refereeing manuscripts or grant applications, must not be used without the explicit written permission of the author of the work involved in these services.

Authorship of the paper

Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors. Where there are others who have participated in certain substantive aspects of the research project, they should be acknowledged or listed as contributors. The corresponding author should ensure that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission for publication.

Hazards and human or animal subjects

If the work involves chemicals, procedures or equipment that have any unusual hazards inherent in their use, the author must clearly identify these in the manuscript. If the work involves the use of animal or human subjects, the author should ensure that the manuscript contains a statement that all procedures were performed in compliance with relevant laws and institutional guidelines and that the appropriate institutional committee(s) has approved them. Authors should include a statement in the manuscript that informed consent was obtained for experimentation with human subjects. The privacy rights of human subjects must always be observed.

Disclosure and conflicts of interest

All authors should disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed. Examples of potential conflicts of interest which should be disclosed include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications/registrations, and grants or other funding. Potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed at the earliest stage possible.

Fundamental errors in published works

When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in his/her own published work, it is the author's obligation to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper. If the editor or the publisher learns from a third party that a published work contains a significant error, it is the obligation of the author to promptly retract or correct the paper or provide evidence to the editor of the correctness of the original paper.

Duties of Editors

Publication decisions

The editor of a peer-reviewed journal is responsible for deciding which of the articles submitted to the journal should be published, often working in conjunction with the relevant society (for society-owned or sponsored journals). The validation of the work in question and its importance to researchers and readers must always drive such decisions. The editor may be guided by the policies of the journal's editorial board and constrained by such legal requirements as shall then be in force regarding libel, copyright infringement and plagiarism. The editor may confer with other editors or reviewers (or society officers) in making this decision.

Fair play

An editor should evaluate manuscripts for their intellectual content without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy of the authors.

Confidentiality

The editor and any editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate.

Disclosure and conflicts of interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor's own research without the express written consent of the author. Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Editors should recuse themselves (i.e. should ask a co-editor, associate editor or other member of the editorial board instead to review and consider) from considering manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or (possibly) institutions connected to the papers. Editors should require all contributors to disclose relevant competing interests and publish corrections if competing interest.

Complaints and Appeals Policy

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics, editorial integrity, transparency, and fairness. ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research follows the principles and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in handling complaints, appeals, and publication-ethics concerns.

Complaints

Authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders may submit complaints concerning the journal's editorial and publication processes, including editorial decisions, peer review, delays in manuscript processing, conflicts of interest, authorship disputes, reviewer or editorial conduct, and suspected publication misconduct.

Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief or the journal's official editorial office of ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research. The complaint should clearly describe the concern and, where appropriate, provide relevant evidence or supporting documentation. All complaints will be assessed objectively and handled confidentially to the extent reasonably possible.

Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors may appeal an editorial decision when they believe that the decision resulted from a significant misunderstanding of the manuscript, an error in the evaluation process, inappropriate application of the journal's editorial criteria, or other substantial grounds.

An appeal must provide a clear and reasoned explanation addressing the specific concerns underlying the decision. An appeal should not merely express disagreement with the reviewers' opinions. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee that the original decision will be overturned.

The Editor-in-Chief will conduct an initial assessment of the appeal and may consult the handling editor, reviewers, independent experts, or other appropriate parties. Where necessary, an editor involved in the original decision may be excluded from the appeal process to avoid conflicts of interest.

Publication Ethics Concerns

Allegations involving plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabrication or falsification of data, inappropriate authorship, conflicts of interest, or other forms of publication misconduct will be investigated in accordance with applicable COPE guidance.

Where appropriate, ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research may request clarification or evidence from the authors or their affiliated institutions. If misconduct is confirmed, ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research may take appropriate corrective action, including the publication of a correction, expression of concern, or retraction.

Confidentiality and Final Decisions

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research will handle complaints and appeals fairly, objectively, and confidentially. Individuals who raise legitimate concerns in good faith will not be subject to retaliation.

Appeal decisions will normally be considered final. A further appeal will only be considered if substantial new evidence becomes available or if there is clear evidence that the original appeal process was materially flawed.

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research reserves the right to reject repetitive, abusive, or vexatious complaints and appeals that do not present substantive grounds for reconsideration.

Research Misconduct Policy

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research is committed to maintaining the integrity, reliability, and credibility of the scholarly record. ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research follows the principles and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in addressing allegations of research and publication misconduct.

1. Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to behaviour that violates accepted standards of responsible research and publication. It may include, but is not limited to:

• Fabrication — making up research data, results, participants, or other information and reporting them as genuine.
• Falsification — manipulating research materials, processes, data, images, or results in a way that may misrepresent the research findings.
• Plagiarism — presenting another person's ideas, words, data, or work as one's own without appropriate acknowledgment.
• Duplicate or redundant publication — publishing substantially the same research in more than one publication without appropriate disclosure or justification.
• Improper authorship — including individuals who have not made a substantial contribution or excluding individuals who have made qualifying contributions.
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest that may improperly influence the research or publication process.
• Manipulation of the peer-review process, including fabricated reviewers, falsified reviewer identities, or inappropriate attempts to influence peer review.
• Other serious violations of research integrity or publication ethics.

2. Reporting Allegations

Allegations of research misconduct may be submitted by authors, reviewers, readers, editors, institutions, or other concerned parties. Allegations should be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief or the journal's official editorial office of ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research and should include sufficient details and supporting evidence, where available.

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research will treat allegations seriously and will handle them confidentially and objectively.

3. Investigation and Assessment

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editor-in-Chief will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the allegation has sufficient grounds for further investigation.

Where appropriate, ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research may request explanations, supporting documents, original data, or other relevant information from the authors. ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research may also consult editors, independent experts, or the authors' affiliated institution.

When an allegation concerns the conduct of the research and cannot be adequately resolved by the journal, the matter may be referred to the relevant institution or competent authority for investigation.

4. Actions Following an Investigation

If research misconduct is confirmed, ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research may take appropriate action depending on the severity and circumstances of the case. Such actions may include rejection of a manuscript, correction of the published record, publication of an expression of concern, retraction of an article, notification of relevant institutions, or other measures considered appropriate.

All corrective actions will be undertaken with the aim of protecting the integrity of the scholarly record.

5. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research will make reasonable efforts to maintain confidentiality throughout the investigation. All parties involved will be treated fairly and given an appropriate opportunity to respond to allegations.

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who raise concerns or report suspected misconduct in good faith.

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research may revise this policy periodically to remain consistent with developments in research-integrity standards and applicable COPE guidance.

Declaration of Generative AI Use

Authors preparing a manuscript for ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools to support them. However, these tools must never be used as a substitute for human critical thinking, expertise, and evaluation. AI technology should always be applied with human oversight and control. For this reason, ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research adopts the following policy regarding the use of Generative AI and AI-assisted tools in manuscript preparation, analysis, and review.

Transparency and Disclosure

Authors must fully disclose any use of Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude, Midjourney, DALL·E, Grammarly, etc.) in the preparation of the manuscript. Disclosure should be included in a dedicated section titled “Declaration of AI Use” at the end of the manuscript, specifying:

• The tool(s) used
• The purpose of use (e.g., language editing, figure creation, coding assistance)
• The scope and extent of assistance

Undisclosed use of AI tools may be considered a breach of publication ethics.

AI Cannot Be Listed as an Author

Generative AI tools cannot be credited as authors, co-authors, contributors, or correspondents.
Only humans with verifiable intellectual contributions may be listed as authors.

Responsibility and Accountability

Authors bear full responsibility for:

• The accuracy and validity of all content generated with or assisted by AI
• Checking for errors, fabricated information, incorrect citations, or biased outputs
• Ensuring that text, data, figures, or code produced with AI do not infringe copyright or ethical standards

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research will not accept manuscripts containing unverifiable or fabricated data produced by AI tools.

Restrictions on AI-Generated Content

AI tools may be used for:

• Grammar correction and language refinement
• Drafting text that is then substantially revised by the author
• Figure enhancement, image clarity improvement, or aesthetic editing
• Data analysis assistance (e.g., coding help), where authors retain full control and verify results

AI tools may NOT be used for:

• Generating research data, experimental results, or statistical outcomes
• Fabricating citations or literature summaries
• Producing images or figures that may misrepresent scientific findings
• Writing substantial sections of the manuscript without human revision
• Peer review reports or confidential material assessment

Data, Images, and Figure Integrity

All data, images, and figures must reflect factual and verifiable results.
If image-editing AI tools are used (e.g., to improve brightness, clarity, or color), authors must ensure that:

• No scientific information is altered
• No manipulation misleads interpretation

AI Use by Reviewers and Editors

Reviewers and editors must NOT use Generative AI tools to analyse, summarize, or provide feedback on confidential manuscripts.

AI tools may only be used for non-confidential tasks such as grammar checking or non-sensitive text drafting.

Ethical Considerations

Misuse of AI tools, such as generating false data, misrepresenting findings, or failing to disclose AI use, may lead to:

• Manuscript rejection
• Retraction after publication
• Reporting to the authors’ institution
• Future submission restrictions

Post Publication Discussion

Based on COPE's core practices and WAME's guidelines, ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research emphasizes constructive post-publication discussions and corrections to maintain the scholarly record's accuracy and integrity. The key elements of this policy include:

1. Post-publication Comments

Readers and authors are encouraged to engage in constructive discussions about published articles via the corresponding author's contact details listed on the article, or by contacting the editorial office directly at enviro@mail.uns.ac.id.

2. Corrections

If post-publication errors are identified that affect the article's interpretation or understanding, the journal will issue corrections to maintain the scholarly record's integrity. Corrections will be made transparently, with clear indications of what was changed and why, and will be linked to the original published article.

3. Retractions

Retractions may be necessary when errors compromise the research's validity or ethical standards, including cases of research misconduct as outlined in the journal's Allegation of Research Misconduct policy. Retractions will be conducted transparently, following COPE's guidelines, with clear explanations provided and linked to the original article.

4. Expressions of Concern

If there are concerns about an article's integrity but the evidence is inconclusive, an expression of concern may be issued while investigations continue, in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Correction and Retraction

Occasionally, changes to a published article are necessary. Such updates are made only after careful review by the Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the editorial team, and in line with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) standards. Any post-publication change is documented by a permanent public notice that links directly to the original article to ensure transparency and preserve the scholarly record.

Formal post-publication notices include Corrections (Corrigendum or Erratum) when an error or omission affects clarity or interpretation but not the study's validity. A Corrigendum addresses author errors; an Erratum covers publisher/production errors (e.g., mislabelled figures, incorrect affiliations, or missing funding/conflict-of-interest statements).

A Retraction is issued when serious problems undermine the article's credibility, such as flawed methods, data fabrication, image manipulation, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or absent ethical approval. Retractions follow COPE guidance and may be requested by authors or their institutions when justified. Retraction notices will always:

Be linked to and from the original article;

Clearly mark the article as retracted in both HTML and PDF formats using a watermark;

Provide a detailed explanation for the retraction;

Identify the party requesting the retraction (e.g., the authors or editor).

Retractions are issued to correct the scholarly record, not to punish authors. ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research typically does not use retractions to settle authorship disputes; when appropriate and supported by all authors and their institutions, such matters may be addressed via a Corrigendum, consistent with the journal's Allegation of Research Misconduct policy.

To limit the impact of potentially misleading material, the journal seeks to act promptly. When serious concerns arise but an investigation is pending or inconclusive, an Expression of Concern may be published to alert readers neutrally; a retraction or correction may follow once the inquiry concludes. All related notices remain permanently available as part of the record.

Conflict of Interest/Competing Interests

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of transparency and ethical conduct in academic publishing. This policy provides definitions of conflicts of interest and describes procedures for addressing conflicts of interest involving authors, reviewers, editors, the journal, and the publisher, whether identified prior to or after publication. ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research adheres to the Core Practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Definition of Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or entity has financial, personal, professional, or academic relationships or interests that could influence or appear to influence their objectivity, integrity, or decision-making in the context of research, review, editorial work, or publication processes.

2. Identification of Conflicts of Interest

All participants in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and others, are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest relevant to the work they are submitting, reviewing, editing, or publishing. These potential conflicts may include, but are not limited to:

Financial interests: Funding sources, stock ownership, employment, consultancy arrangements, or other financial ties related to the research.

Personal relationships: Close personal or familial relationships with individuals involved in the research or publication process.

Academic relationships: Collaborations or academic affiliations that could affect objectivity or create perceptions of bias.

Competing affiliations: Relationships with competing organizations that might have conflicting interests in the research or its outcomes.

Intellectual property: Ownership of patents, copyrights, or intellectual property rights potentially impacted by the research or publication.

3. Handling Conflicts of Interest

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research will address conflicts of interest with diligence and transparency.

For Authors: Authors are required to disclose all potential conflicts of interest during the manuscript submission process, including all sources of financial support for the project, in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics policy. If a conflict of interest is identified after publication, authors should promptly inform the editorial board. The editorial board will address the conflict transparently and, if necessary, issue corrections or retractions.

For Reviewers: Reviewers must decline invitations to review if they have conflicts of interest that could compromise their impartiality, including competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the submission. If a conflict arises during the review process, reviewers should immediately notify the editorial board for appropriate action.

For Editors and Journal Staff: Editors and journal staff involved in the review and publication process must recuse themselves from handling submissions in which they have conflicts of interest. When uncertainty arises, the Editor-in-Chief and editorial board will decide on the appropriate course of action.

For Publishers: The publisher, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, must implement policies to address potential conflicts of interest within its organization. The publisher should ensure that editorial decisions and processes are free from financial or competing interests.

4. Transparency and Disclosure

ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research will clearly outline its conflicts of interest policy and inform all stakeholders of the requirements for disclosure. Disclosures made by authors, reviewers, editors, and other stakeholders will be published alongside the relevant articles to ensure transparency. Additionally, the journal will limit or restrict access to the publication process for editors, reviewers, and stakeholders who co-author articles submitted to ENVIRO: Journal of Tropical Environmental Research.

Plagiarism Policy

Authors should submit only original work that is not plagiarized and not has been published or being considered elsewhere. Turnitin software will be used by the editorial team to check for similarities of a submitted manuscript with existing literature. If an article has over 25% of the total plagiarism, its will be rejected.