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Call For Article
The Himalayan Naturalist is a bi-annual, online newsletter covering wildlife conservation related projects - scientific and general. We look for articles that deal with wildlife research and conservation.
Article that have previously been published in an online or hardcopy journal/newsletter will be considered ineligible, including derivatives, for re-publication until and unless the content have been rearranged to be considered entirely new article. However, articles published in a personal or organizational website may be submitted.
Editorial Policy
The Himalayan Naturalist takes plagiarism seriously. Any article found to plagiarise will not be published and no further articles from the authors will be accepted until a satisfactory explanation is provided to the editor.
Content should be relevant to biodiversity and conservation. Any articles that are deemed to have no such contribution will not be published. Authors are welcome to justify their article(s) as significant for conservation in cases where the view of the editors differs.
Citations will be checked thoroughly. Please make sure you have them in order. Please be wary of articles published in predatory journals. You can check them here https://predatoryjournals.com/journals/ and here
Peer Review Process
If the submitted manuscript doesn’t follow the format given below, it will be returned immediately to the authors for revision. The manuscript should not be resubmitted until such changes have been completed.
Original contributions, short communications, and review papers will be published only after two peers have reviewed the article. After the editors have ensured that the manuscript is in the correct format, it will be sent to two independent peers from related fields. We will keep both sides anonymous from each other. Revisions will be requested as per the reviewers’ comments.
Distribution updates, opinions, field notes, hotspots, and conservation bulletins will be edited by the editors. Revisions will be requested when required.
Article Classification
Articles are classified on the basis of the underlying work, source, and intention. Each manuscript should clearly indicate which classification it belongs to, however, editors may suggest a change in the article type based on the manuscript.
Original contribution for scientific articles
Original research by authors that has resulted in new and exciting findings can be submitted as original contributions. The manuscript should follow the standard format, complete with abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussions, acknowledgements, references, and biographical sketch. The upper word limit is 4,000, excluding citations. You may also include an abstract in your native language but that is not compulsory.
Short Communications
Articles based on short term research, case studies, and byproducts of other major research can be submitted as short communications. It should be under 2,000 words and while not compulsory, it is highly advised that they follow the same format as the original contribution.
Review papers
These include articles that review existing scientific papers rather than being based on field work. The word limit is 2,000 and requires citation.
Distribution updates
These include short notes about record of species and subspecies from new locations previously thought to be unoccupied, rediscovery of species and similar records. Provide verifiable evidence (such as photographs, results of DNA analysis) and locations (preferably with maps). The word limit is 700 words and requires citation.
Opinions
Opinions on articles published as well as on issues critical for conservation are welcome. These should be limited to 1,000 words. Citation is optional though reference is encouraged.
Hotspots for wildlife
These include description and the importance of areas that are valuable in terms of the wildlife diversity they possess. These should not be more than 1500 words and require citations.
Field Notes
Interesting incidents, memorable observations and stimulating field experiences can be submitted under field notes. The upper word limit is 1,000 and doesn’t require citation.
Conservation bulletin
Articles on conservation activities at a local or regional level, issues in conservation, and similar themes can be submitted as conservation bulletin. Word limit is 700 and doesn’t require citation.
The body of the manuscript
A typical manuscript submitted to The Himalayan Naturalist should follow standard format of scientific paper.
Manuscript type
Title
Authors
Abstract
Keywords
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgements
References
Biographical sketch
List of attachments
Original contributions should follow the format compulsorily. Submissions on short communications and distribution updates are flexible but are highly encouraged to follow the format. Use calibri/arial, font size 12, left alignment (not justified), line spacing 1, without any paragraph space. Give two line breaks for paragraph change. Do not indent the first sentence of paragraph. Use SI units whenever possible. Give space before unit (12 km, 4.5 km2). Coordinates should be given in Decimal Degrees (27.9487°) and not Degree Minute (27° 28.965') or Degree Minute Second (27° 28' 43"). Use 24 hour format for time (such ams 14h09 instead of 2:09 pm). Each heading should be bold and subsequent sub-headings should be italicized. Terms that have local origin should be italicized, explained at the first use with either a footnote or inside a parenthesis right next to the word. For example. Raju dai (dai means older brother in Nepali).
Scientific and common names
Common names are written in uppercase. Scientific name should follow common name on first use after a space in italics. For example: Large Indian Civet Viverra zibetha, Snow Leopard Panthera uncia, Pallas’s Cat Otocolobus manul. Please do not use scientific name in titles. Do not use parenthesis for scientific name. In case of confusion in scientific name, please follow
References footnote style
Reference should be listed carefully. During citation, author’s name should be followed by publication year without comma (eg. Ghimirey 2009). If the article is written by three or more authors, it should be cited as et al. followed by date without a comma (eg. Ghimirey et al. 2012). In case of multiple citation, arrange them chronologically (eg. Ghimirey 2009; Ghimirey et al. 2012). In case, the publication year matches for authors, single authors come first followed by two authors and so on. Book title, journal title, report title, newspaper and scientific names should be italicized.
The examples are for reference only and may not exist in real.
Book reference
Author, year of publication. Book title. Name of publisher, place of publication. Page numbers (if applicable).
Acharya, R. and Ghimirey, Y. 2017. Latokosero ki Batokosero. Friends of Nature, Kathmandu, Nepal and Rufford Small Grants, UK. PP 110-113.
Book chapter references
Author, year of publication. chapter title, In book title, editors (if applicable). name of publisher. and place of publication. page numbers.
Ghimirey, Y. 2012. Snow leopards in Nepal. In Felids of Nepal, Thapa, T.B. and Thapa, K. (eds.). WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal. PP. 23-26.
Journal references
Author, year of publication. Article title. Journal title volume number, and page numbers.
Ghimirey Y. and Acharya, R. 2017. The vulnerable clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa in Nepal: an update. Oryx 52, 166-170.
Thesis
Authors, year of publication. Thesis title. University, location. Page numbers
Adhikary, B. 2017. Tree composition and structure of black-handed spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) habitats in fragmented forests of Rivas isthmus, Nicaragua. M.Sc Thesis, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen.
Reports
Authors, year of publication. Report title. Organization, location. Page numbers (if applicable)
FON 2017. Nepal Owl Festival 2017. Friends of Nature, Kathmandu, Nepal.
FON 2013. Illegal wildlife trade and hunting in Humla. Unpublished. Friends of Nature, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Conference and symposium proceedings
Author, date. Title. Proceedings title. Organizer, location.
Ghimire, Y., Acharya, R., Ghimire, B. and Koirala, V. 2011. Presence/absence and status of squirrels (Sciuridae) in Makalu-Barun National Park. Proceedings of Second Seminar on Small Mammals Issues. SMCRF, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Online papers or websites
Author, date. Title. Source/URL. Retrieved date
Ghimirey, Y. and Acharya, R. 2017. Status of small carnivores in Nepal.
www.fonnepal.org/publications.html. 15 April 2018.
Newspaper
Author, date. Title. Newspaper
Acharya, R. 2018. Salman kina gaye jail. Pahilopost
Author organization and corresponding author
Please follow this format
Title
Author A1*,Author B2, Author C3
1 Author A’s organization
2 Author B’s organization
3 Author C’s organization
*corresponding author: Author A’s email id
Biographical sketch
Include a few sentence about the authors under 40 words. This should include their recent work, organizations, and research interest.
List of Attachments/File Management
Manuscript submitted must be *.doc, *.docx or file type that can be opened in Microsoft word. Insert the tables at the end of manuscript fitting the width of A4 size document. Tables should be numbered as Table # and captioned. Each manuscript submitted must attach figures and photographs separately in the same email. These attachments should be listed at the end of manuscripts with numbers and captions clearly. Figures and photographs should be numbered collectively as Figure #, have file size not less than 2 MB in .jpeg or .tiff format. For instructions on creating graphics, consult
graphics for conservation. In case of charts/graphs made in excel, *.xls or *.xlsx file should be provided. It is highly advised to design your graphs/figures so that they can be understood in grayscale prints too. Files attached should have names that correspond with the list of attachments.
Please link the attachments with the body of manuscript so that editors can put them in context in the list of attachments. For example. Table 1. Detail of camera trap stations. (Table 1 provides the detail of the camera trap stations of the area); Figure 2. Map showing camera trap stations (Camera traps were placed at 34 locations in Sikles).
While providing the photographs, authors are responsible for making sure that the owner of the photographs have given consent. Photographs provided should not have any watermark/copyright engraved. Photo credit has to be provided with the list of attachments which will be put at alongside photographs by the editors.
Maps
Maps are important graphics tool to represent your findings. Please provide your map in high resolutions. Please bear in mind how the map will look in grayscale printing too. Since not all authors have GIS skill, please let us know if you need any assistance with mapmaking. Editors will send you the map for approval before final publication.
Hyperlinks
Hyperlinks should be provided whenever possible linking references to their digital source.
Cover letter
If there is any other information that the editor should know, for example, sensitive issues such as making coordinates of endangered species unavailable, please include them with the cover letter when submitting your manuscript.
The cover letter must also include the email address of all the authors.
Submitting a manuscript
Please submit your articles in the format stated above via email to
thehimalayannaturalist@gmail.com. Only electronic copies following our guidelines will be accepted.
Acknowledgement of receipt of your submitted manuscript
After we have received your manuscript, an email will be sent by the editor to the email address of all the authors.