Get Published
A recommendation note from the MRI Governing Body and MRI Coordination Office on “predatory journals”
Predatory journals and predatory publishers have been defined as “entities that prioritise self-interest at the expense of scholarship and are characterised by false or misleading information, deviation from best editorial and publication practices, a lack of transparency, and/or the use of aggressive and indiscriminate solicitation practices” (Grudniewicz et al., 2019).
Publishing in predatory journals is highly problematic for a number of reasons*. For instance, it can damage one’s own reputation and/or the reputation of one’s institution; articles that are published in predatory journals do not offer any added value to researchers and science and further perpetuate practices that negatively impact science and scientific quality; or visibility can be limited given that some of these journals are not indexed by reputable citation indexes and literature databases, with no guarantee of long-term access to published articles. Furthermore, such articles often enter the public domain without rigorous quality control or thorough peer review, for instance by prioritising speedy reviews - irrespective of the suitability of the reviewers’ disciplinary expertise - instead of soliciting the relevant and key expertise for such reviews. Therefore, all publications in such journals endanger the credibility of publicly-funded research, diminish the value of research that would otherwise receive greater recognition if published in reputable journals, and contribute to a general distrust of scientific publications.
The MRI encourages open science practices and the accessible dissemination of results of high-quality scientific research. The choices made as to where and how this research is published are also key aspects that need attention and careful consideration by the mountain research community. Therefore, and in view of the issues raised by predatory publishing practices, the MRI strongly recommends that researchers exercise their own responsibility and judgment and carefully consider where they choose to publish their work, and where they agree to guest edit special issues, by consulting trusted sources of information and learning more about predatory publishing practices.
Useful resources we recommend (non-exhaustive):
- Grudniewicz et al (2019). Predatory journals: no definition, no defense. Nature, 576, 210-212.
- Think.Check.Submit. A site that helps researchers identify trusted journals and publishers for their research.
- The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) report (2022): Combatting Predatory Academic Journals and Conferences
- Blog: “Combating predatory journals and conferences through systemic change in scientific publishing” (International Science Council)
- UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
* Adapted from Swiss National Science Foundation: FAQ What is the SNSF’s position with regard to predatory journals?
Do you have any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the issue of predatory publishing practices? We’d love to hear from you! Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at the MRI Coordination Office.
MRI / 20.10.2022
What drives the resurgence of woodlands in mountain areas, and under what conditions can it best benefit local communities and ecosystems? Mountain Research and Development invites systematic assessments of innovative interventions or action research, empirical studies and meta-analyses on trends, drivers, and consequences of woodland resurgence, as well as review-based agendas for future research, policies, or action.
Notice of intent due: 8 January 2024
Full papers due: 15 April 2024
eco.mont, in collaboration with ForumAlpinum 2024, presents a special issue exploring "Biodiversity Change in Mountain Protected Areas." Mountains are home to diverse ecosystems and endemic species, with about one-third of terrestrial protected areas located in mountain regions. However, these areas face biodiversity threats from climate change, land use changes, pollution, over-exploitation, and invasive species. The complex topography and microclimates in mountains contribute to high biodiversity, but climate change is causing species to migrate to higher altitudes, especially in cold alpine habitats. Glacial melting and altered precipitation patterns impact mountain river ecosystems. This special issue aims to highlight biodiversity changes in mountain protected areas and showcase park management's adaptation and mitigation strategies, in conjunction with ForumAlpinum 2024.
Deadlines:
- Deadline for Article Submissions: 31 March 2024
- Publication Date: March 2025
For inquiries and contributions, please contact Valerie Braun at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Special Issue in Tourism Geographies on Sustainable Tourism Geographies in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
This special issue in Tourism Geographies explores the complex interplay between sustainable tourism and the preservation of biodiversity, cultural heritage, and livelihoods in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. It builds upon previous debates in the field and introduces new theoretical frameworks, offering fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable tourism in these reserves. Authors are encouraged to contribute empirical and conceptual research on diverse aspects of sustainable tourism, fostering responsible practices and addressing socio-ecological issues to advance the understanding of this relationship.
Abstract submission deadline: 15 December 2023
The Journal of Alpine Research / Revue de géographie alpine (JAR|RGA) would like to announce a call for abstracts and articles for a 2024 issue of the journal. This issue will be titled Ageing in the Mountains.
English version: Ageing in the Mountains
French version: Vieillir en montagne
German version: Altern in den Bergen
Deadlines
Abstracts: 1 February 2024
Articles: 15 May 2024
The Journal of Alpine Research / Revue de géographie alpine (JAR|RGA) would like to announce a call for articles for a 2024 issue of the journal. This issue will be titled Negotiating One's Place in the Mountains: Radical Perspectives on Experiences of - and Challenges to - Domination.
English version: Negotiating One’s Place in the Mountains: Radical Perspectives on Experiences of – and Challenges to – Domination
French version: Négocier sa place en montagne. Faire l’expérience de la domination et de sa contestation: perspectives radicales
Deadlines
Abstracts: 20 December 2023
Article manuscripts: 1 April 2024
The intersection between geomorphology and society has become increasingly critical as human activities continue to alter landscapes at an unprecedented pace. Unregulated land use changes often lead to environmental degradation, increased vulnerability to natural hazards, and a loss of ecosystem services. In response, there is a growing recognition of the importance of nature-based solutions, which involve harnessing natural processes and ecosystem functions to address societal challenges.
Given the importance and relevance of this Special Issue, Earth Science Systems and Society (ES3) invite researchers to contribute original articles with a particular focus on urban contexts. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
1. The impact of land-use changes on urban geomorphology: Studies of urban sprawl and its consequences on landforms, soil erosion, and sedimentation patterns in urban areas.
2. Assessing the effectiveness of nature-based solutions for urban flood control: Studies of stormwater management in highly urbanized areas.
3. The role of geomorphology in shaping urban landscapes: The relationships between urban form, land-use patterns, and geomorphic processes in rapidly growing cities.
4. Understanding the implications of urbanization on river geomorphology: Investigations of the effects of urbanization on the hydrology, sedimentation, and morphology of rivers in urban areas.
5. Exploring the potential of green infrastructure in managing urban geomorphological processes: Studies of the impact of green roofs, permeable pavements, and other nature-based solutions on soil erosion, runoff, and sedimentation in urban settings.
6. Investigating the socio-economic factors influencing land-use changes in urban areas: Investigations of the role of demographic, economic, and political factors in driving urbanization and its impact on geomorphology.
7. Assessing the vulnerability of urban areas to geomorphic hazards: Studies of the impact of floods, landslides, and other hazards on urban infrastructure and society, and the effectiveness of mitigation measures.
8. Examining the impact of urbanization on soil erosion and sediment transport in watersheds: Studies of the impact of land-use change and development on the sediment budget of a river basin in urban areas.
9. Developing sustainable land-use strategies for urban areas: Investigations of the potential of integrating nature-based solutions, land-use planning, and geomorphological processes in urban development.
10. Investigating the impact of urbanization on coastal geomorphology: Studies of the impact of sea-level rise, land-use change, and urbanization on coastal morphology and sediment transport, and the potential of nature-based solutions for mitigating coastal erosion and flooding.
ES3 look forward to receiving your submissions. All articles that are accepted for publication will be charged with an article processing fee. Before you submit, please visit the Publishing Fees and Funding Support pages for more information and guidance.
This special issue aims to renew the international debate on urban-rural linkages. In particular, it explores recent methods of delineating flows between urban and rural areas and the potential conflicts associated with them. It also promotes the dissemination of new evidence on coordinated policies and strategies to strengthen urban-rural linkages, implement integrated territorial development plans and resolve territorial conflicts. Empirical studies and case study analyses from around the world are welcome. Contributions that analyse territorial policies at the local level that relate to food policy, climate, biodiversity protection and ecosystem clustering (the list is not exhaustive) will be accepted. Studies that address the vision of sustainable urbanisation and peri-urbanisation are also welcome.
Invitation for submission
The Regional Science Association International (RSAI) welcomes original, unpublished papers that address the above topics, or any other related research questions not mentioned, as they relate to urban-rural linkages and relative conflicts. They look forward to papers from all parts of the world.
Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you need more information.
Submission deadline: 31 December 2023.
Mountain Research and Development (MRD) invites submissions for its peer-reviewed MountainDevelopment and MountainAgenda sections. The first spotlights transformation knowledge: How can we solve problems and tap opportunities for greater sustainability? Articles should offer validated insights from development interventions, local practices, and policy efforts. The second focuses on target knowledge: What sustainable development do we want?
Articles should systematically review—and conclude with agendas for—research, development, or policy in a given area of sustainable mountain development. These kinds of knowledge are fundamentally important for sustainable development, and yet they receive comparably little attention in scientific research. Let’s change that!
Read about the journal’s section policies, guidelines, and submission procedure here.
Submissions are welcome year-round.
This Special Issue of the journal Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences aims to compile recent research that estimates and predicts natural hazards and risks in the Himalayan region.
Extreme hydrometeorological and geomorphological events account for 45 % of the fatalities and 79 % of the economic losses caused by natural hazards. Exacerbated by high seismic activity, rugged terrain such as the Himalayan landscape is particularly susceptible to generating these events, which often transform into cascading hazards where an initial event causes a downstream chain reaction (Shugar et al., 2021). These hazards interfere with increasing population pressure and expansion of settlements along rivers and new infrastructure developments such as roads and hydropower projects. Rising temperatures and changes in weather patterns in the wake of global warming likely elevate risks from hazards such as landslides, glacial lake outburst floods, riverine, and flash floods (Kraaijenbrink et al., 2017). The complexity of these hazards and their underlying processes demand scientific efforts and approaches from multiple disciplines.
This article collection in the journal Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability seeks contributions that synthesize what we know, and what we don’t yet know, about social transformations in the context of diverse sustainability challenges.
This article collection in the journal Sustainable Earth aims to examine and improve the learning of sustainability.
Learning is a relatively new concern in sustainability. Much attention has been given to sustainability education, especially in tertiary education, but rather less on how people learn about sustainability and learn to become sustainable, especially from experience.
The Swiss Journal of Geosciences is an international fully Open Access peer-reviewed journal and publishes original research and review articles, with a particular focus on the evolution of the Tethys realm and the Alpine/Himalayan orogen.
The Swiss Journal of Geosciences has editorial waivers available for outstanding contributions and review articles from researchers who lack funding for fully OA publication.
This Scientific Reports Collection in the journal Nature provides a platform for interdisciplinary studies of mountain surface processes and their responses to climate change and human activities.
Submissions are welcome on a rolling basis.
