About the Journal
Focus and Scope
Madagascar Conservation & Development is an electronic, open-access, peer-reviewed, multi-disciplinary journal devoted to the swift dissemination of current research in and on Madagascar and the Western Indian Ocean islands. Manuscript submission, peer review, and publication are all handled on the internet. Software developed for the journal automates all clerical steps during peer review, facilitates a double-blind peer review process, and allows authors and editors to follow the progress of peer review on the internet. As articles are accepted, they are published in an "Issue in Progress." At six month intervals (e.g., June and December) the Issue-in-Progress is declared a New Issue, and journal subscribers receive the Table of Contents of the issue via email. Madagascar Conservation & Development’s turn-around time (from first submission to publication) averages around 200 days.
Madagascar Conservation & Development welcomes the results of original research based on field surveys, advances in field and laboratory techniques, book reviews, and informal status reports from research, conservation, development and management programs and in-field projects, both terrestrial and marine, in Madagascar and surrounding islands (including Mascarenes, Comoros, Seychelles). In addition, notes on changes in the legal status of any species (e.g., IUCN, CITES) or area (e.g. protected areas) in the region are welcomed. Readers are also encouraged to alert Madagascar Conservation & Development to pertinent letter-writing campaigns and other activities, which may need the support of the Madagascar Conservation & Development community.
Madagascar Conservation & Development also encourages authors to make use of the unique opportunities of an electronic journal: color illustrations, animated model output, downloadable models and data sets, use of the "Response" option for interactive discussion, and other novel inventions to encourage reader interaction.
Peer Review Process
The Editor-in-Chief evaluates whether a submission meets the journal’s scope, and whether the submitted material is in the requested form and format.
An Executive Editor is assigned to guide a manuscript through the peer review process. 2-4 reviewers evaluate the quality and originality of a manuscript. Madagascar Conservation & Development has a "double blind" review process: authors are not told who reviewed their paper and reviewers are not told who wrote the paper. Peer reviewers are informed of the identity of the authors after the manuscript is either accepted or rejected. After a decision is reached, a reviewer is free to contact the authors privately about the manuscript.
A decision on the manuscript can generally be expected within 2 months of submission; delays in obtaining reviews may occasionally prolong this process. Manuscripts are sent out for review electronically, and all correspondence takes place via e-mail. Although the peer review process is accelerated by the use of electronic communication, traditional high-quality, peer-review standards are applied to all manuscripts submitted to Madagascar Conservation & Development.
Publication Frequency
Madagascar Conservation & Development publishes regular issues once or twice a year, with issues available as 'in progress' as soon as articles are published online, i.e. with the indication of a date, but no pagination yet. Special Issues are published separately throughout the year.
Open Access Policy
Madagascar Conservation & Development provides open access to all of its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Such access is associated with increased readership and increased citation of an author's work. This journal is signatory of the Budapest Open Access initiative.
Madagascar Conservation & Development uses Open Journal Systems 2.2.2.0, an open source journal management and publishing software developed, supported, and freely distributed by the Public Knowledge Project under the GNU General Public License.
Policies on Conflict of Interest, Human and Animal rights, Informed Consent
It is important that any research in the realms of conservation or sustainable development conforms to the highest possible ethical and legal standards. Therefore Madagascar Conservation & Development has a code of conduct for researchers contributing articles.
http://www.journalmcd.com/index.php/mcd/article/view/mcd.v11i1.6
By submitting an article for consideration by Madagascar Conservation & Development you will be required to assent that all co-authors have agreed and abided by this code of conduct.
Researchers should confirm that their research conforms to the high standards set out by any reputable source, such as the guidelines included in the following:
Madagascar Conservation & Development http://www.journalmcd.com/index.php/mcd/article/view/mcd.v11i1.6
British Sociological Association http://www.britsoc.co.uk/
American Sociological Association, http://www.asanet.org/
Association of Social Anthropologists of the Commonwealth, http://www.theasa.org/
Social Research Association, http://www.the-sra.org.uk/
French Mammal Society, http://www.sfepm.org
Sponsors
Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG)
Madagascar Research and Conservation Program
BP 3391
Antananarivo, 101, Madagascar
Sources of Support
From 2006 to 2010, Madagascar Conservation & Development received a grant from the Jane Goodall Institute Switzerland and Madagascar Wildlife Conservation to support the publication of manuscripts submitted by authors from developing countries.
