PLAGIARISM POLICY

PLAGIARISM AND REDUNDANT/OVERLAPPING PUBLICATION POLICY

Maintaining academic integrity and ensuring the originality of scholarly work are essential principles of the Journal of People, Forest and Environment (JOPFE). As an open-access scientific journal that publishes primary research findings and synthesized articles contributing significantly to the understanding of people, forests, and the environment, JOPFE upholds the highest standards of publication ethics.

To preserve academic credibility, JOPFE enforces strict policies against plagiarism and redundant or overlapping publication. Such practices compromise trust in scholarly communication, devalue genuine research contributions, and may result in ethical and legal implications.

This policy aims to define these forms of academic misconduct clearly, establish transparent procedures for addressing violations, and outline the consequences for authors involved. By adhering to these principles, JOPFE promotes a culture of integrity, transparency, and respect for intellectual property among researchers and authors.

Authors submitting manuscripts to JOPFE are required to ensure that their work is original, properly cited, and meaningfully contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge in the fields of people, forest, and environmental studies.

PLAGIARISM

Definition
Plagiarism involves the use of another person’s ideas, words, data, or work without proper acknowledgment. It includes, but is not limited to, the following forms:

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text, data, or images word-for-word from another source without proper citation.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing substantial portions of one’s own previously published work without adequate reference or acknowledgment.
  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Paraphrasing or incorporating phrases and ideas from a source without appropriate citation.
  • Accidental Plagiarism: Failing to properly cite sources due to negligence, misunderstanding, or lack of awareness.

Detection Procedures
To ensure originality, JOPFE uses the following measures:

  • iThenticate Screening: All submitted manuscripts are checked using iThenticate software to identify potential plagiarism by comparing them with extensive academic and online databases.
  • Editorial Review: The editorial team conducts a manual review of flagged sections to evaluate the context and determine whether plagiarism has occurred.

Handling Detected Plagiarism
When plagiarism is suspected or identified, the following steps will be taken:

  1. Initial Evaluation: The editorial team assesses the scope and seriousness of the issue by reviewing the similarity report and the content in question.
  2. Communication with Authors: Authors will be notified and asked to provide clarification or explanation. Supporting evidence of originality may be requested.
  3. Editorial Decision: Based on the author’s response and the editorial assessment, the manuscript may be subjected to revision, rejection, or retraction.

Confirmed Cases
If plagiarism is confirmed, the following actions will apply:

  • Rejection of Manuscript: The manuscript will be rejected, and a formal notice will be sent to the authors.
  • Reputation Consequences: Authors found guilty of plagiarism may face reputational repercussions affecting future submissions to JOPFE and other journals.
  • Reporting: Severe cases may be reported to relevant institutions or research bodies.

Preventive Measures
JOPFE encourages authors to use plagiarism detection tools before submission and to thoroughly understand proper citation practices. The journal’s plagiarism policy is reviewed periodically to maintain its effectiveness and relevance.

REDUNDANT / OVERLAPPING PUBLICATION

Submitting a manuscript that substantially duplicates previously published work, including identical hypotheses, data, analyses, or conclusions, is considered a redundant or duplicate publication.

While plagiarism involves copying text or ideas, redundant publication concerns the repetition of the same research content across multiple outlets. The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) categorizes such practices as follows:

  • Major Offense: Republishing identical findings or data from the same study without proper acknowledgment, or deliberately concealing redundancy (e.g., by altering the title, author order, or references). Manuscripts in this category will be rejected.
  • Minor Offense (Salami Slicing): Republishing data or results that overlap partially with previous studies (e.g., subgroup analyses, additional follow-ups, or methodological extensions). Such manuscripts may be considered if proper citation and publisher approval are provided.

At JOPFE, overlapping publications are not accepted unless the editors determine that the overlap significantly enriches scientific discourse and contributes meaningfully to the field. In such cases, publication will proceed only with explicit permission from the original publisher and with proper citation of the prior work.

Author Disclosure Responsibilities

Authors must:

  • Disclose any previous publications, submissions, or forms of dissemination (such as preprints, conference papers, or reports) that may overlap with the manuscript submitted to JOPFE.
  • Provide details of the earlier work, including title, authors, publication venue, and a description of the overlapping content.
  • Explain how the submitted manuscript offers new insights or distinct contributions beyond previously disseminated research.
  • Clearly indicate any earlier versions or related dissemination activities.

Consequences

  • Manuscripts identified as redundant or duplicate publications will be rejected.
  • Manuscripts containing partial overlaps will only be considered if they meet editorial requirements, including prior publisher approval and proper citation of the original source.
  • Readers, reviewers, and editors are encouraged to report any suspicions of duplicate or overlapping publication.

By implementing these policies, the Journal of People, Forest and Environment (JOPFE) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and originality. These efforts ensure that the research it publishes continues to support open, ethical, and globally accessible scientific exchange related to people, forests, and the environment.