- Focus and Scope
- Section Policies
- Peer Review Process
- Publication Frequency
- Author Self-Archiving
- Archiving
Focus and Scope
"Mathematical and Computational Forestry & Natural-Resource Sciences" (MCFNS) is an international scientific journal dedicated to the promotion, publication, and public discussion, of high-quality studies on the basic mathematical and computational research in forestry and natural resource sciences. The title of the journal is intended to be descriptive of this journal's main focus and scope. The journal is all-inclusive in the sense that it invites publications from a range of topics varying in scope from "Mathematical Forestry" to "Mathematical Natural-Resource Sciences," and from "Computational Forestry" to "Computational Natural-Resource Sciences." The notions of "Mathematical" and "Computational" sciences are intended to indicate a double focus on two opposite ends of the contemporary natural resource sciences spectrum. One end is the traditional Rationalist, derivation-based foundation of theoretical thinking that was the origin of all the sciences, but in recent decades, with the growing availability of inexpensive computers, is losing ground to the overriding usage of data-analysis-based studies. The other end of the spectrum is inevitably what many aspects of natural sciences must converge to in taking advantage of emerging and ever-growing and more readily available super-computing power. Inasmuch as the increasing computing resources demote the basic analytical research, replacing it with expedient empirical solutions, they promote a different kind of analytical research by opening new ways of structuring scientific pursuits, asking formerly unanswerable questions, and solving formerly insolvable problems with the use of computer-based modeling and simulations. Exploring the new research possibilities based on ever-growing computing capabilities gives foundation to new computational sciences in Forestry and Natural Resources, in the same manner in which the expanding computer capabilities helped to found such sciences as ``Computational Genetics'' and ``Computational Physics.'' The predominant 21st-century model of scientific pursuit in Forestry and Natural Resource Scientific publishing is right in between the two extremes covered by this journal. The main modus of that model is to collect data and analyze them using statistical software. This journal provides a publishing platform for the Forestry and Natural Resource Sciences outside this model by virtue of the journal's focus on theoretical derivations and simulations, discussions, reviews and implementations of new computer-based technologies. Derivations are encouraged on all scientific bases, such as algebra, geometry, and plain logic. Similarly, computer simulations are within the scope of this journal's interests, whether they are based on theoretical pseudo-data or massive collections of empirical survey data. In essence, the "Mathematical and Computational" aspects of natural resource sciences are viewed by this journal as sharing the common platform of the Rationalist approach to research that contrasts with the more mainstream Empiricist studies (statistical analysis of collected data) dominating the present natural resource sciences and predominantly covered by the other excellent forestry and natural resource sciences journals. By no means is the use of data in describing studies a detriment to publishing manuscripts in this journal, nor is the use of data considered inferior in any way to the more theoretical approaches invited by this journal. Rather, the use of data alone is not a viable reason for publishing in this journal, as it could be for publishing in the other forestry and natural resource science related journals. Also, absence of data is not a ground for rejecting a manuscript from publication in this journal, as it could be for the other journals.
Section Policies
REGULAR SECTIONS
Starting with Vol. 3, No. 2, the MCFNS journal publications will be organized in the subject sections described below. The choice of the submission section is left to the authors; however, it will be at the discretion of the editors as to which of the sections the manuscript will eventually be assigned.
In principle, each section will be administrated by the designated Section Editor. However, depending on workloads and individual circumstances, different editors may take a part or whole responsibility for various manuscripts.
| Submit | Double-Blind Refereeing | Single-Blind Refereeing | Current Publications |
Editors- Section Editors
 Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Bayesian Methods
Manuscripts in all formats describing original research in application of Bayesian methods to problems in natural resource management. Especially welcome are applications of existing Bayesian models to new problems and development of novel Bayesian methods including application of Bayesian spatial models.
Editors- John Kershaw
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Biomass Supply and Sustainability Analysis
Manuscripts of all formats describing original research in biomass and carbon assessments and sustainability analysis under various theoretical assumptions and operational constraints.
Editors- Kevin Boston
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Mathematical Modeling
Manuscripts in all formats describing original research in mathematical derivations and modeling relating to various subjects ranging from single plant morphology through monospecific stand growth and yield to mixed forest population dynamics.
Editors- MCFNS Editor
- Trenton Schimer
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
GIS and Remote Sensing
Manuscripts in all formats describing original research related to all theoretical and applied GIS and Remote Sensing problems. Spatial analysis that might involve Bayesian methods may be submitted either to this section or the Bayesian Methods section; however, it will be in the discretion of the editors to which of the section will the manuscript be eventually assigned to.
Editors- Pete Bettinger
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Growth & Yield and Quantitative Silviculture
Manuscripts of all formats describing original research in Growth and Yield modeling and assessment, and in quantification of natural resource responses to various treatments and management regimes.
Editors- Kevin Boston
- MCFNS Editor
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Hydrology & Water Resources
Research topics relating to the properties of the earth's water and its movements within the land as well as any of its interactions with all other relevant factors.
Editors- Rhett Jackson
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Natural Resource Economics and Policy
Publications of all formats describing original research in natural resource economics and policy, especially those with strong quantitative content.
Editors- MCFNS Editor
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Operations Research and Decision Support Systems
Manuscripts in all formats describing original research in development, applicators, and analysis involving Operations Research methods or Decision Support Systems.
Editors- Pete Bettinger
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Programming and Software Development
Manuscripts in all formats describing original research in computer sofware development, application of computational algorithms, optimization, and numerical solutions to challenging computational problems.
Editors- Kevin Boston
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Sampling and Natural Resource Inventories
Manuscripts of all formats describing original research in sampling methods and inventory systems.
Editors- John Kershaw
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Scientific Computing
Manuscripts in all formats describing original theoretical or applied research in computer modeling and computer simulations in Forestry and Natural-Resource Sciences.
Editors- Kevin Boston
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Editorials
Articles, Notes, or Comments expressing the opinions of MCFNS editors on any given subject matter or event relating to MCFNS function, policy or production, and their accounts of thereof.
Editors- MCFNS Editor
 Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Selected Reviews
Referees' manuscript reviews that are considered by the editors to be either exemplary or otherwise complementary to the published manuscripts will be published as Reviews named or anonymous depending on the consent of their authors. Only editors can submit Reviews for consideration of publication in the MCFNS journal.
Editors- Section Editors
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Letters to MCFNS
These are essentially Letters to Editor, which are considered Non-refereed and are published subject to minimum editorial and peer-review scrutiny regarding their relevance to the professional content of this journal and its mission and contents.
Editors- MCFNS Editor
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
SPECIAL SECTIONS
The Special Section contain publications originated from an identifiable event, such as a Conference, Workshop, or a solicitation of submissions on a selected common theme. Some publications that may have originated outside of this common event may also be included in this section if they match the same theme. The publications in this section may be in any or all of the types published by this journal (Articles, Comments, Editorials, etc.) as well as any other forms defined by the Section Editor. The event originating the Special Section content will be identified by an introductory editorial within this section.
| Submit | Double-Blind Refereeing | Single-Blind Refereeing | Current Publications |
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Just Data
Do you have some interesting data hidden on some drive or disk that never got analyzed? Or perhaps an experiment that failed or got damaged part way through? Or a small experiment with interesting results, but not sufficient for a publication? MCFNS has a new outlet for such data sets. Our new Just Data section is looking for data sets that we can archive on the journal site and make available to biometricians looking for interesting data for classroom or proof of concept exercises.
To submit a dataset to our Just Data section we ask for a brief write up describing the rationale for the data, what variables were collected, the basic experimental design, how treatments were applied, and, if applicable, what went wrong. Maps showing treatment layouts or plot designs are encouraged. Variable descriptions should include how the measurements were made or calculated, what units were used, and their precision. Data should be submitted in a csv file format with a header line identifying the variables. All submissions will be peer reviewed to determine usefulness of the data, and subsequent comments accepted showing novel analyses of the submitted data.
- John Kershaw
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Special Section on Forest Micro-Detail Detections and Their Seemingly Unrelated Scientific Inquiries
All manuscripts in any branch of sciences describing high quality research related to, or linkable to, any forest related micro-detail detection or tracking problems. These include studies in even the most diverse disciplines that can be deemed to be synergistic and relevant to micro-detail detections within forest monitoring areas. The initial selection of publications in this section has been invited from the Smolensk Conference.
Editors- Bob Megraw
- Jacek Siry
- Piotr Witakowski
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Special Section on Systems Analysis in Forest Resources
This Special Section is dedicated to publications originated from the Symposium on Systems Analysis in Forest Resources. Some publications that may have originated outside this Symposium may also be included in this section if they match the same theme and were processed and accepted for publication at the time of compiling this Special Section. The publications in this section comply with the general rules defined in the Special Sections definition.
Editors- Marc McDill
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Special Section on Decision Support Tools for Sustainable Forest Management
This Special Section is dedicated to publications originated from the Workshop on Decision Support Tools for Sustainable Forest Management. Some publications that may have originated outside this Symposium may also be included in this section if they match the same theme and were processed and accepted for publication at the time of compiling this Special Section. The publications in this section comply with the general rules defined in the Special Sections definition.
Editors- André Falcão
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Special Section on the Southern Forestry GIS Conference
This Special Section is dedicated to publications originated from the Southern Forestry GIS Conference. Some publications that may have originated outside this Symposium may also be included in this section if they match the same theme and were processed and accepted for publication at the time of compiling this Special Section. The publications in this section comply with the general rules defined in the Special Sections definition.
Editors- Pete Bettinger
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Special Section on Forest Measurements and Quantitative Methods & Management
This Special Section is dedicated to publications originated from the Southern Mensurationists' Conferences and the International Conferences on Forest Measurements and Quantitative Methods and Management. Some publications that may have originated outside of these Conferences may also be included in this section if they match the same theme and were processed and accepted for publication through a peer-review process at the time of preparing this Special Section. The publications in this section comply with the general rules defined in the Special Sections definition of the MCFNS journal.
Editors- Section Editors
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Special Section on Advanced FIA Data Analysis
All works representing original high quality research related to the FIA data analysis, design, and practices.
Editors- Charles Canham
- Greg Liknes
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Special Section on Recent Trends in Computing
This Special Section focuses on all areas of Advanced Computing: Networking, Informatics, Security, and Privacy, technologies. The scope encompasses basic and applied research as well as practical implementations.
Editors- Manoharan Rajesh
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Obituaries
Obituaries of individuals in the field of the journal or involved with the journal logistics.
Editors- MCFNS Editor
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Peer Review Process
The Section Policies lists the journal sections in the order of the MCFNS peer review intensity. In general, the Monographs, Articles, Reviews, and Technical Notes, require the highest level of review intensity and the highest number of Referees. The Comments, Editorials and Errata, require lesser review with fewer referees and higher latitude regarding review confidentiality, manuscript contents and manner of expression. The Covers and Letters to Editors require only consideration by selected Editorial Board members and are not considered Peer-reviewed publications. A consideration by multiple Editorial Board members is the minimum MCFNS requirement for publishing any contents on the journal website; nothing can be published on the MCFNS website without consent from at least two Editorial Board members.
The MCFNS peer-review process consists of up to three stages, with varying intensity of reviews between the different sections of the journal.
The first stage of the MCFNS peer-review process is an initial consideration by at least two Editorial Board members. All publications of MCFNS are subject to this stage. At this stage, the editors decide if the topic of a candidate manuscript matches the Focus and Scope of the MCFNS journal and what, if any, changes need to be done to the content of the manuscript to fit the journal domain. Three potential outcomes of this stage are: forwarding of the manuscript to the second stage of the MCFNS review process; redirecting the manuscript to another journal; or recommending changes in the manuscript content to make it compatible with the MCFNS Focus and Scope. This first review stage usually takes a few days. The names of the selected Editorial Board members deciding on topic suitability are confidential, but the reasoning behind the decision is disclosed, and the authors are welcome to provide their rationale for any disagreements with the assessment.
The second stage of the MCFNS peer-review process is a double-blind peer review by at least two to four referees, of whom at least one referee must be an expert in the manuscript's topic and at least one referee must be markedly fluent in English language style and grammar and be able to understand and follow the manuscript's topic. The double-blind aspect of the review may be waived by the editors for Comments, Editorials and Errata, while individual referees can choose to be identified by names in their reviews of any sections. The authors are encouraged to submit in their submission letter a list of qualified potential reviewers. The reviews by Referees take usually several weeks, but the journal has also in place an accelerated review process if needed. The main focus of the second stage of peer-review is scrutiny of the technical content of the manuscript and making sure that the manuscript is clear in its communication, as well as identifying any other opportunities for improving the manuscript. The journal policy is to give maximum latitude to the authors' individual styles, but at the same time, the journal has a zero-tolerance policy for any refutable algebraic or otherwise factual errors. The reviewers at this stage are not asked to judge the manuscript topic suitability for the journal publication, but rather for identifying any factual errors that must be corrected before the manuscript can be published. If authors do not agree with any deficiencies that might be claimed by reviewers, the reviewers will be encouraged to publish their critiques of the reviewed manuscript along with the manuscript itself. Occasionally, outstanding reviews that the editors deem complementary to the manuscript's content may be published, subject to the reviewer's consent, along with the manuscript, or in the absence of such consent they may be anonymously quoted by the editors in the journal editorial.
The third, additional stage of the MCFNS peer-review process, is an Open Public Peer-Review of the journal PREPRINTS. This stage is intended for an Open-Access worldwide PREPRINT scrutiny, enabling all potential readers to assume the reviewer role for any MCFNS manuscript prior to its final publication on the official MCFNS journal website. The Open Public Peer-Review System is one of the distinguishing marks that sets the MCFNS journal apart from the conventional hard copy-based journals, and puts it into the class of the most progressive contemporary journals, such as those of the Copernicus Publications, which originated the Public Peer-Review idea. The MCFNS journal treats the Public Peer-Review option as a complement to the traditional peer review described above, rather than as a replacement for it, so that the MCFNS publications can benefit from the combined strengths of both of these systems. The Open Public Peer-Review is available on the OPR website until the manuscript is published in its designated issue. The publication issue may be subject to balancing of the manuscript backlog versus consistency of the journal production.
Publication Frequency
Journal items will be published collectively, as part of an issue with its Table of Contents, on April 30 and October 30 of each year (note that the publication dates are subject to change).
Archiving
This journal utilizes the LOCKSS system to create a distributed archiving system among participating libraries and permits those libraries to create permanent archives of the journal for purposes of preservation and restoration. More...
© 2008 Mathematical and Computational Forestry & Natural-Resource Sciences