The African Journal of Environmental Ethics & Conservation will only be published online.

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General

Initial submissions must adhere to the following guidelines:
Manuscripts must be written in English;
Manuscripts must be submitted in .doc or .docx format (MS Word)
Manuscripts must be single-spaced, with 2.5-cm margins;
Manuscripts must contain page numbers and continuous line numbers;
The manuscript’s in-text citations must be in Author-Year format (e.g., Johnson et al. 2004; Smith 2018), not numbered.

Manuscripts must include the following, in this order:
Cover Page:

Article title (<15 words, in sentence case, with scientific names in italics)

Author names and full affiliations, including ORCiD numbers for all authors (visit www.orcid.org to register).  At least one author of the manuscript must be designated as Corresponding author*

 

First Page:

1. Abstract (about 5% of main manuscript text)

Abstracts should adhere to the following guidelines. Preferably structured as follows:

• Study Objective: Clearly articulate the objective of the study, delineating the overarching purpose and aim.

• Methodology: Describe the approach or methodology employed in conducting the research, outlining the systematic framework utilized.

• Results: Highlight the key findings and conclusions derived from the study, emphasizing significant outcomes.

• Implications: Summarize the implications of the study, elucidating the potential ramifications for environmental ethics and conservation practices.

• Value Proposition: Clearly articulate the unique contribution of the paper, showcasing its novelty or distinctiveness without referencing external sources.

Do not cite references in the abstract.

​     2. Keywords

 Provide a maximum of up to five (5) keywords suitable for indexing,  alphabetized and separated by commas

 

Main manuscript text

• Include these main headings: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgements, Supplementary Data, References ((in alphabetical order by author last name), Figure Legends, Tables

• Tables with captions (captions for tables are placed above the table and numbered; one per page)

• Figures with captions (captions for figures are placed below the figure and numbered; one per page); for further guidance on figure format, see the "Tables and Figures" section

• Tables and figures must be embedded sequentially in the document, after the References

• When included, Supplementary Data should be uploaded as separate, individual files.

•  AJEEC employs a hierarchical heading structure, comprising up to threelevels. While most articles will utilize only levels #1 (major section headings) and #3, authors should adhere to the following guidelines for consistency and clarity:

1. Major Section Headings (#1): These headings introduce major sections of the manuscript and should be in sentence case and left-justified. They do not end with punctuation.

2. Subsection Headings (#2): Subsection headings are optional and should be used sparingly. They should be in sentence case, left-justified, and bold.

3. Subsubsection Headings (#3): Subsubsections provide further subdivision within subsections and are italicized. They should be in sentence case, left-justified

 

Authors are encouraged to maintain consistency in heading usage and formatting throughout their manuscripts to enhance readability and organization.

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Citations

• Citations within the text should adhere to the "Author-Year" format. Multiple in-text citations should be arranged chronologically, separated by semicolons (e.g., Author1 1998; Author2 1999). When citing works with three or more authors or editors, use the first author's last name followed by "et al." In-text citations should be ordered chronologically by the lead author's surname.

• In cases where multiple works by the same author are published in the same year, differentiate them with lowercase letters (e.g., Author 2010a, 2010b), with the first article cited designated as "a" and separated by a comma.

• References cited in the text should direct readers to pertinent literature, and it is recommended to limit citations to the minimum necessary to support a given point. Typically, no more than three citations are needed.

• Please note that unpublished data, reports, preprints, and personal communications cannot be cited. Accepted manuscripts should be confirmed as "in press."

• Personal observations or communications should be parenthetically cited in the text, including the source's name, affiliation, and the date of communication.

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Terminology, Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Measurement Units

It is imperative to ensure clarity and consistency in the use of terminology, abbreviations, acronyms, and measurement units.

• Define all symbols and spell out acronyms upon first mention. For instance, when referring to the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana), state the genus name in full followed by the species name on the first occasion of use. Subsequently, abbreviate the genus (L. africana) for brevity.

• Incorporate the metric system and SI units for all measurements. Embrace terminologies such as "Miocene" instead of "Recent," and "K/Pg" rather than "K/T." Utilize BP for years before present, My for million years, and Ma for million years ago. For example, "The Miocene epoch spanned 23 My, from 23 Ma to 5.3 Ma."

• Consistently employ numerals to express both whole and decimal numbers across all scientific contexts, including text, titles, tables, and figure captions.

• Spell out single-digit ordinals and common fractions to maintain readability and precision within scientific discourse. For instance, express "one-third" rather than "1/3," and "ninth" instead of "9th."

• We encourage authors to employ clear and standardized reporting practices for statistical data. Please express "mean" in full text, while utilizing "x̄" accompanied by standard deviation (SD) for numerical values.

• For instance, indicate "We report the mean ± SD," but represent specific values as "8.5 ± 1.3 (x̄ ± SD)." Similarly, initially spell out "chi-square test," but thereafter utilise the value "X^2" for numerical representation. For example, state "We employed a chi-square test," followed by "X^2 = 174.85" for specific values. Adhering to these guidelines ensures consistency and clarity in statistical reporting throughout your manuscript.

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Tables and Figures

To ensure clarity and independence, all tables and figures must be comprehensible without referring to the main text, effectively allowing them to “stand alone.” Consequently, legends should comprehensively detail species names, locations, and collection dates associated with the data in the tables or figures.

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Each table should commence on a new page within the manuscript. Tables must be presented in text format, such as a formatted table in Word, and not as static images. Only the initial word in column or row headings should be capitalized, except for proper nouns. The title "Table xx" should be in bold font and indented. Footnotes within tables should be indicated using lowercase letters. Tables must be devoid of vertical lines and should contain only three horizontal lines: one at the top, one beneath the column headings, and one at the bottom.

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When submitting figures for publication, authors are advised to use widely accepted file formats such as TIFF. The Editor-in-Chief will determine the appropriate size for each figure upon review. Ensure that all lettering and figure legends are sufficiently large to remain legible in the final published format. For figures with multiple panels, each panel should be distinctly labeled with a capital letter (e.g., “A”, “B”), and these labels should correspond with the figure legend for clarity.

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Note: When incorporating figures not originally created by the authors, it is imperative to secure the most comprehensive distribution rights feasible. This includes permissions for all formats, editions, languages, and global territories, covering the entire duration of the copyright. Authors must ensure they have both electronic and print rights. In cases where electronic rights for third-party content cannot be obtained, authors must seek guidance from the Editor-in-Chief prior to further action.

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References Section Guidelines

Citations within the manuscript must correspond precisely with entries in the "References" section. This alignment is crucial for maintaining academic integrity and facilitating readers' access to the original sources. The references should be sorted first by the surname of the first author, then by additional authors, and finally by the publication date for works by the same authors.

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When listing authors, include all names up to ten authors. If a publication has more than ten authors, list the first ten followed by "et al." to acknowledge the extensive collaboration. Titles of works should follow a consistent capitalization pattern, with only the first word and proper nouns capitalized. Italicize all scientific names in the titles to highlight their taxonomic significance.

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For journal articles, write out the complete names of the journals to avoid ambiguity and ensure that readers can easily locate the referenced materials. This practice enhances the clarity and professionalism of the manuscript, aligning with the rigorous standards expected in the fields of environmental ethics and conservation.

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When preparing your manuscript, it is crucial to adhere to the citation formats outlined in the References section

Journal Articles

Green, T.L., Summers, E.C., & Reed, F.R. (2021). Ethical implications of habitat destruction in urban planning. Environmental Ethics and Conservation, 12(1), 45-60. 

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Books

Smith, J. (2012). Avian Species of the Pacific Northwest. 3rd ed. Seattle (WA, USA): Stonehenge Press.

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Chapters in Edited Books

Dwyer, S. P. (2021). The Ethical Dilemma of Urban Wildlife Management. In J. K. Patel & L. R. O'Brien (Eds.), Perspectives on Conservation Ethics: Integrating Theory and Practice (Vol. 3). Vancouver, Canada: Pacific Wildlife Press. pp. 201–238.

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Manuscript text should preferably have a succinct introduction, literature review, methods, results and discussion, implications/conclusion. Exceptions to this structure will be limited to conceptual papers, critical reviews or research notes.