Submissions

Author Guidelines

Read the following Author Guidelines before submitting your manuscript. All manuscripts are submitted online via our manuscript tracking system. Step-by-step instructions are available during the submission process.

Type of Contribution

JCE publishes the following types of articles: Research Note (8,000 words), Case Innovation (5,000 words), Edgewalking Insight (3,000 words), Youth Voice (3,000 words), and Conservation Wisdom (8,000 words). 

Note: Word count includes all text from the abstract through acknowledgments. It does not include the reference list, table and figure legends, or the body of tables. Manuscripts that substantially exceed these word limits will not be considered for review.

Formatting and Submission

Submissions must be in Word document format. Manuscripts should be written in either British or American English, with consistent usage throughout the text. The main text should be in Times New Roman, font size 12, single column, double-spaced, with continuous page and line numbering (do not restart numbering on each page). To ensure a double-blind review process, authors are required to submit the following three files as separate Word documents:

1) Cover Letter

The cover letter should introduce the submission and include the following:

• The manuscript title and article type (e.g., Research Note, Case Innovation)
• A summary of the article’s significance
• Confirmation that the submission is original and not under consideration elsewhere
• A statement that all authors have approved the submission
• The name and contact details of the corresponding author

2) Title Page

This document will not be shared with reviewers. It should include:

• Full manuscript title: concise and informative (≤ 20 words)
• Author list: full names of all authors, with superscript numbers indicating institutional affiliations
• The corresponding author clearly indicated
• Short bios (50–100 words) for the first and corresponding authors: each bio should summarize the author’s background, affiliation, and research interests relevant to the submission
• Keywords: 4–6 in alphabetical order, optimized for online search engines
• Total word count (excluding references, tables, and figure captions)
• Language of the secondary abstract (if applicable): We encourage including an abstract in the primary local language of the study site, or a language most accessible to the target audience. This helps ensure that local knowledge, voices, and solutions are shared more widely and equitably. 

3) Blinded Manuscript

The main text of the manuscript must not contain any identifying information. Please remove document metadata and avoid self-referencing statements that could reveal the authors’ identities. If applicable, any supplementary materials should be submitted as separate, anonymized files. This blinded manuscript must contain:

1. Title: concise and informative (≤ 20 words).

2. Abstract

The title page is followed by an abstract (required for all article types). If appropriate, the abstract should summarise the objectives, methods, and main results and implications of the work. It should contain no more than 250 words and must not include references or unexplained abbreviations or acronyms.

3. Main Text

Use headings and subheadings to organise the text into sections (usually Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussions, Conclusions; alternative headings may be used if appropriate). Abbreviations should be written out in full at first mention. Do not use footnotes.

4. Acknowledgements 

A brief statement thanking individuals, organisations, and government bodies that provided assistance, as well as details of financial support.

5. Conflicts of interest 

Details of any relationships that could potentially bias the work. If no known conflicts of interest exist, please state: “No known conflicts of interest.”

6. Literature Cited

All citations (both in-text and in the Literature Cited section) should follow the APA style (7th edition). Please ensure that all in-text citations are included in the Literature Cited, and vice versa. Unpublished results and personal communications are generally not included in the Literature Cited but may be mentioned directly in the text (e.g., G. Schaller, personal communication, May 2025). 

Journal article:

Kanoi, L., Burow, P. B., Gao, Y., Lim, A., Orrick, K., Singer, E. A., & Dove, M. R. (2024). Re-constructing restoration: A critical review of the practice, politics, and process of restoration in diverse ecologies. Environment and Society, 15(1), 23–46.

Book:

Clark, S. G. (2011). The policy process: A practical guide for natural resources professionals. Yale University Press.

Book chapter:

Mattson, D. J., Karl, H., & Clark, S. G. (2012). Values in natural resource management and policy. In H. A. Karl, L. Scarlett, J. C. Vargas-Moreno, & M. Flaxman (Eds.), Restoring lands—Coordinating science, politics and action: Complexities of climate and governance (pp. 239–259). Springer.

Report:

Balfour, D., Ferreira, S. M., Gaymer, J., Lewis, C., Mafumo, H., Makoma, K., Mgoola, W., Reuben, M., Shaw, J. A., & Uri-Khob, S. (2025). African rhino conservation 2025–2035: A contemporary strategic framework. International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Website:

World Wildlife Fund. (2023, October 12). How climate change affects biodiversity. https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/how-climate-change-affects-biodiversity

7. Figures, Photos and Tables

All figures, photos, and tables should be numbered and referred to in the main text. Figure and photo captions should be included at the end of the manuscript, after the Literature Cited section. Pictures of species, habitats, landscapes, or other graphic material may be included to illustrate articles. Diagrams, drawings, and captions must remain legible after reduction. Maps should always indicate both the scale in metric units and the north. Any relevant copyright information must be included.