Paul Novelly – Editor-in-Chief, The Rangeland Journal – Email: penovelly@gmail.com; Matt Fletcher ARS Council – Email: matt@rangeassist.com.au
Have you ever been interested in a rangeland management topic and wished for a paper about it, one containing a comprehensive overview, a discussion of the complexities, and an understandable conclusion? In other words, a good, recent review paper. Not about the more common subjects (continuous versus rotational grazing, C3 versus C4 plants to name just two), but one about a topic that, while rarely considered, is important (at least to you at the moment), and about which authors and readers often hold contrasting viewpoints, making determining the significance of any treatment or management action difficult.
Well, here is your chance to be involved in producing one.
As well as publishing ‘Collections’ (previously called Special Issues) of individually authored papers on the one topic, the ARS is interested in knowing the interest in commissioned, comprehensive papers on specific topics to be published in the Rangeland Journal. These would be written by one or a group of authors and, rather than discuss new research, provide a critical analysis of previously published papers on a particular topic, one perhaps subject to considerable debate. The authors would be financially compensated for their time preparing the paper.
What we are seeking from you are potential topics for these papers and, but not necessarily, the names of possible authors for them. Therefore, if you have always wanted someone to write the ‘definitive paper’ on a topic of interest to you, or even if you wish to author the paper yourself, please let us know.
Once a decision on a commissioned a paper is decided, potential authors will be approached to discuss the paper, and if the concept is accepted by them, the planning (potential date of submission, paper length, topic coverage etc.) of the paper will be finalised. A brief Abstract of the proposed paper would be requested from the selected authors as confirmation of the proposed product.
Apart from suggestions on topics, we may be contacting people for advice on potential authors once a topic has been decided. So, if you see a nominated topic with no authors associated with it, don’t hesitate to send us your recommendations.
Please write to the Range Management Newsletter (newsletter@austrangesoc.com.au), or contact either of us with your views and suggestions. We can’t guarantee every recommended topic will be addressed, but without your suggestions we would only be guessing as to what you, the Journal’s readers, would like to see published.