Plagiarism Policy

Upholding Scientific Integrity

At ABNJ, we are deeply committed to academic honesty, ethical scholarship, and the protection of original scientific contributions. Plagiarism—whether intentional or inadvertent—compromises the integrity of research and undermines trust within the scientific community. As such, ABNJ enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy on all forms of plagiarism.

❓ What Constitutes Plagiarism?

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text, figures, or tables from previously published work without proper citation or quotation marks.

  • Improper Paraphrasing: Rewording another author’s ideas, methods, or findings without acknowledging the source.

  • Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one's own previous work, in whole or part, without disclosure or citation.

  • Unauthorized Data Use: Incorporating datasets, images, or graphical elements without permission or reference.

???? Similarity Thresholds

Standard Allowed Similarity
ABNJ Internal Policy Maximum 10%
HEC Pakistan Benchmark Up to 19%

Although HEC permits up to 19%, ABNJ maintains a stricter limit of 10% to foster a culture of originality and integrity in scientific publishing.

???? Plagiarism Detection & Responsibility

  • All manuscripts submitted to ABNJ are screened using plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin).

  • Authors bear full responsibility for the originality of their submissions.

  • Any manuscript exceeding the similarity limit is flagged and subject to editorial review.

⚖️ Handling of Plagiarism Cases

Type of Violation Editorial Action
Minor Overlap (e.g., missing citations) Manuscript returned for correction and resubmission
Major Plagiarism (extensive copying) Immediate rejection or post-publication retraction
Repeated Offenses or Severe Misconduct Author(s) may be blacklisted; affiliated institutions notified

✍️ Author Declaration of Originality

All authors must submit a signed Statement of Originality, confirming:

  • The manuscript is original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.

  • All sources are appropriately cited.

  • The work is free from plagiarism, including self-plagiarism.

⚠️ AI-Generated Content Policy

ABNJ prohibits the use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard, Gemini) for creating or analyzing content within scientific manuscripts.

  • ❌ Submissions containing AI-generated text, data interpretation, or analysis will be rejected or retracted.

  • ✅ All submitted work must reflect authentic human scholarship and research expertise.

???? Appeals Process

Authors who believe a plagiarism decision was made in error may:

  • Submit a formal appeal to the ABNJ Editorial Office.

  • The manuscript will be re-evaluated by the Editorial Board or a neutral panel.

  • Final decisions on plagiarism appeals are binding and non-negotiable.

???? Retraction & Transparency

In cases where plagiarism leads to retraction:

  • ABNJ will issue a formal retraction notice, clearly stating the reason.

  • The original article will remain accessible, clearly marked as RETRACTED for transparency.

  • Notifications will be sent to indexing services and databases to preserve academic trust.

???? Ethical Alignment

This policy is aligned with:

  • COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)

  • HEC Pakistan standards for journal quality

  • ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) guidelines

By enforcing this policy, ABNJ ensures the integrity, authenticity, and ethical soundness of every article it publishes in the field of biological and environmental sciences.