Society for Range Management Issue Paper Guidelines
July 20, 2006
The Society for Range Management occasionally publishes issue papers on topics of current concern. The goal of these issue papers is to present credible information that highlights research and scientific aspects on the topic and to raise questions about what is not known from those perspectives. Because these issue papers are not in the same category as a research paper or a management case study, different guidelines for writing, reviewing, publishing, and distributing are needed.
The following guidelines have been approved by the Board of Directors.
SRM Advocacy Guidelines need to be followed.
Issues may be identified by any member, committee, or section of the Society. The Board of Directors will approve which issues move forward with Society support. This support may include any publication costs, but will not include costs associated with the author’s (or authors’) time.
The issue paper must be based on peer reviewed scientific papers. Although the issue papers are written in lay terms without citations, they should include a brief bibliography of original research and synthesis papers.
The ideal situation would be for knowledgeable scientists to write a synthesis paper on a topic that reviews, synthesizes, and interprets the existing peer reviewed literature and publish that in Rangeland Ecology and Management followed by the release of the issue paper. In the case where the Board of Directors approves that the synthesis paper be written, page limits should be established and journal page charges should be paid by the Society. The Rangeland Ecology and Management Editorial Board and Editor-In-Chief shall have final say on whether the synthesis paper is appropriate for publication using their existing processes. If the Society pays the page charges, the authors should be committed to writing a short issue paper (2-4 printed pages) or working with another author to develop the issue paper. The audience for the issue papers is policy makers, land managers, and the interested public.
In the event that reasonable progress on the issue paper is not made, the SRM Executive Vice President in consultation with the Board of Directors shall solicit other qualified authors to write the issue paper. If the Board of Directors approves the publication of the issue paper, publication and distribution costs will be paid by the Society. Outside funding may be sought.
The Issue Paper should be peer reviewed by a combination of scientists and/or managers for consistency with the peer reviewed synthesis paper, including any new information.
If it is necessary to publish an Issue Paper before the synthesis review paper is completed, members with the requisite expertise should be solicited to write it. An ad hoc editor for the Issue Paper will be assigned to ensure that it is reviewed and comments sufficiently addressed.
Published issue papers will be printed as appropriate and pdf files will be posted on the SRM website. Distribution of printed materials will depend on available funding. Authors of the issue paper should be identified with publication date and an issue paper number assigned.
In the event that the Board does not approve either a synthesis or issue paper to be developed with SRM funding, members are welcome to continue forward with such a project at their expense. All other guidelines must be followed to be published under the SRM name.
In any case, outside funding should be solicited for printing and distribution. The EVP shall be the responsible party to determine the appropriateness of such funding. The availability and source of external funding should not determine the subject or the content of issue papers.