Manuscript Peer Review and Publishing Workflow
Step 1: Registration and Submission
Authors must register on the journal’s portal and log in to submit their manuscript. Submission requires uploading the anonymized manuscript file, title page, and signed “Author Commitment and Copyright Agreement” along with the “Conflict of Interest” declaration.
Step 2: Initial Screening (Desk Review)
- Format Compliance: Submissions are checked for adherence to author guidelines. Incomplete manuscripts or those not formatted correctly will be returned to the corresponding author for correction.
- Scope and Similarity Screening: The Editor-in-Chief reviews the manuscript for thematic relevance and conducts plagiarism screening using similarity detection tools. Manuscripts outside the journal’s scope or failing originality standards may be rejected at this stage upon Editorial Board review.
Step 3: Double-Blind Peer Review
- Eligible manuscripts are assigned to at least 2 to 3 independent peer reviewers specializing in the field.
- If positive evaluations are returned, the manuscript is sent back to the corresponding author along with reviewer reports for revisions.
- If two reviewers recommend rejection, the Editorial Board evaluates the reports; if endorsed, a formal rejection notice is issued.
- Review status updates and official notifications are communicated through the journal platform and email.
Step 4: Revision and Re-evaluation
- Authors are required to submit the revised manuscript within the specified deadline, accompanied by a detailed point-by-point response to all reviewer comments.
- The revision is forwarded to the designated reviewer for validation. A second revision is granted only once; failure to adequately address the required amendments will lead to rejection.
Step 5: Final Editorial Decision
Upon satisfactory validation by the reviewer, the manuscript is presented at the Editorial Board meeting for a final publication decision and issuance of the formal Acceptance Certificate.
Step 6: Copyediting, Typesetting, and Publication
Accepted articles undergo professional copyediting and layout formatting. Galley proofs are sent to the corresponding author for final proofreading and written sign-off before being assigned to “Articles in Press” and subsequently published in a formal issue.
General Submission Terms and Policies:
- Scope and Originality: Only original research papers directly relevant to climate, dryland ecology, and related sciences are accepted. Translated manuscripts are strictly rejected.
- Exclusivity: Submissions must not have been published previously, nor should they be under simultaneous review elsewhere.
- Author Agreement: A completed commitment form signed by all co-authors is strictly mandatory; submissions lacking this document will not enter the review pipeline.
- Editorial Authority: The final publication decision rests exclusively with the Editorial Board. The journal reserves the right to make necessary editorial and linguistic adjustments to accepted manuscripts.
