Plagiarism Policy

Bioresources and Environment (BioEnv) screens all submitted manuscripts for originality before peer review. The journal uses plagiarism detection software and editorial assessment to identify plagiarism and other forms of unethical publication practice. The journal follows the principles and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Scope of Screening

The journal screens all manuscripts for:

  • Text similarity
  • Self plagiarism or reuse of published material without proper citation
  • Redundant or duplicate publication
  • Improper paraphrasing or use of sources without attribution
  • Reuse of figures tables or data without proper attribution or permission

The editorial office uses plagiarism detection software together with editorial assessment.

2. Evaluation of Similarity Reports

Editors assess similarity reports in context rather than relying on a fixed similarity score. They consider:

  • The nature and location of the overlap
  • The effect of the overlap on the originality of the study
  • Proper citation of sources and quotations
  • Acceptable overlap in standard methods technical terms and commonly used expressions

As an indicative reference the journal generally expects:

  • Overall similarity: ≤ 20%
  • Similarity from a single source: ≤ 5%

These levels are based on reports generated by Turnitin or equivalent software. References quotations and standard methodological phrases may be excluded from the assessment.

A similarity score does not by itself establish plagiarism. Editors may consider a manuscript with a higher score when the overlap occurs in acceptable sections. They may also reject a manuscript with a lower score when substantial unattributed overlap affects its main arguments data results or conclusions.

3. Acceptable and Unacceptable Overlap

Acceptable overlap

  • Properly cited quotations
  • References and bibliographic information
  • Standard methodological or technical wording

Unacceptable overlap

  • Copying material without citation
  • Paraphrasing sources without attribution
  • Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time
  • Dividing one study into multiple papers to avoid presenting the full contribution
  • Republishing previously published work without disclosure

4. Research and Publication Misconduct

BioEnv considers the following practices unethical:

Plagiarism: Presenting another person's work ideas or expressions as one's own without proper acknowledgment.

Data fabrication or falsification: Creating data or changing data research processes or images in a way that misrepresents the research.

Citation manipulation: Adding irrelevant or excessive citations to increase citation counts or improperly influence the impact of an author or journal.

5. Self Plagiarism

Authors must not reuse their previously published material without proper citation and disclosure. Authors must clearly identify previous work and explain how the submitted manuscript provides a new contribution.

6. Data Figures and Image Integrity

Authors must ensure that their data figures and images are accurate and properly sourced. They must not:

  • Fabricate or falsify data
  • Manipulate images in a misleading way
  • Reuse figures images or other materials without proper attribution or permission

Editors may request original files data or other supporting materials when necessary.

7. Editorial Screening

The editorial office or handling editors may conduct similarity checks:

  • At initial submission before peer review
  • During revision when necessary
  • Before final acceptance or publication

Editors assess the reports using editorial judgment and relevant COPE guidance.

8. Investigation and Editorial Action

When editors identify possible plagiarism or other ethical concerns they may:

  1. Conduct an initial assessment
  2. Ask the authors for clarification or supporting evidence
  3. Conduct additional checks or seek further advice when necessary
  4. Make a decision based on the available evidence and relevant COPE guidance

The journal handles investigations fairly and confidentially. Authors have an opportunity to respond before the journal reaches a final decision.

9. Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal an editorial decision or submit a complaint to the editorial office. An appeal must:

  • Be submitted in writing
  • Clearly explain the grounds for the appeal
  • Include supporting evidence where applicable

The Editor in Chief reviews appeals and may seek advice from independent editorial board members. The decision following an appeal is final.

10. Sanctions

When the journal confirms plagiarism or other ethical misconduct it may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Reject the manuscript
  • Retract a published article
  • Restrict future submissions for a specified period
  • Notify the author's institution or relevant authorities when appropriate
  • Publish a correction retraction or other editorial notice

The journal determines sanctions according to the severity and nature of the misconduct and relevant COPE guidance.

11. Post Publication Actions

If the journal identifies plagiarism or other ethical concerns after publication it may:

  • Publish a correction
  • Retract the article
  • Publish an editorial notice
  • Notify relevant institutions or authorities when appropriate

The journal links all post publication notices to the original article to maintain a clear and transparent publication record.