Instructions to Authors

General Information

Natura Dinarica publishes original scientific papers, preliminary communications, review papers, and professional papers in forestry, environmental sciences, nature conservation, and related disciplines.

Only manuscripts that have not been previously published and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere may be submitted. By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that the work is original, that all authors have approved the submission, and that the manuscript complies with the journal’s editorial, ethical, and formatting requirements.

All manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online submission system.

Language

Manuscripts may be submitted in English or Serbian.

Manuscripts written in English must include an abstract in English and a summary in Serbian. Manuscripts written in Serbian must include an abstract in Serbian and a summary in English.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that the manuscript is written in clear and grammatically correct language. Authors submitting manuscripts in English are advised to have the text professionally proofread before submission. Manuscripts that do not meet basic language standards may be returned to the authors for revision before peer review.

Titles, captions, and legends of tables and figures should be provided in both languages, Serbian and English.

Manuscript Format

Manuscripts should be submitted as a single editable text file, preferably prepared in Microsoft Word.

The manuscript should be formatted as follows:

  • font: Times New Roman;
  • font size: 12 pt;
  • line spacing: 2.0;
  • margins: 2.5 cm on all sides;
  • pages numbered consecutively;
  • line numbers included throughout the manuscript.

Footnotes should be used only exceptionally and only for brief explanatory information.

Tables and figures should be included in the manuscript file at appropriate positions in the text and also submitted as separate files.

Manuscript Structure

Manuscripts should generally contain the following elements:

  1. Title page
  2. Abstract
  3. Keywords
  4. Main text
  5. Acknowledgements, if applicable
  6. Funding statement, if applicable
  7. Conflict of interest statement
  8. References
  9. Appendices, if applicable
  10. Supplementary material, if applicable

The standard structure of the main text is:

  1. Introduction
  2. Materials and Methods
  3. Results
  4. Discussion
  5. Conclusion

Variations of this structure are permitted when appropriate for the type, content, and purpose of the manuscript, especially for review papers and professional papers.

Title Page

The title page should include:

  • concise and informative title;
  • full names of all authors;
  • author affiliations;
  • institutional addresses;
  • ORCID iDs, where available;
  • e-mail address of the corresponding author;
  • short running title, up to 75 characters including spaces.

The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the journal during submission, review, revision, and publication.

Abstract

Each manuscript must include an abstract of 100–250 words.

The abstract should briefly present:

  • background or context of the study;
  • research objectives;
  • materials and methods;
  • main results;
  • principal conclusions.

The abstract should not contain references, tables, figures, or undefined abbreviations.

Keywords

Authors should provide five to ten keywords.

Keywords should be useful for indexing and database searching. Where possible, they should not simply repeat words already used in the title. Keywords may refer to the subject, methods, study area, taxonomic group, ecological concept, or applied relevance of the manuscript.

Main Text

The main text should be clear, logically organized, and written in a scientific style appropriate to the subject and type of contribution.

For original scientific papers, the usual structure is Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. The Introduction should explain the background, rationale, and objectives of the study. Materials and Methods should provide enough detail to allow the study to be understood and, where possible, repeated. Results should present the findings clearly and objectively. The Discussion should interpret the results in relation to previous research and the broader scientific context. The Conclusion should summarize the main findings and their significance.

Review papers and professional papers may follow a different structure, provided that the organization of the manuscript is clear and appropriate.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements may be included before the reference list. This section may mention individuals, institutions, projects, grants, or other forms of assistance that contributed to the work but do not justify authorship.

Funding Statement

Authors should disclose all sources of financial support relevant to the submitted work. If no specific funding was received, this should be stated.

Example:

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest. If there are no conflicts of interest, this should be stated.

Example:

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References and Citation Style

Natura Dinarica follows the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition (APA 7).

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all references are accurate, complete, and consistently formatted. All sources cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and all sources listed in the reference list must be cited in the text.

Only published material, works accepted for publication, theses, dissertations, and other publicly available scholarly or professional sources should be included in the reference list. References to computer software may be given in the text when appropriate.

DOIs should be included whenever available.

In-text Citations

In-text citations should follow APA 7 style.

Examples:

For one or two authors:

Stefanović and Manuševa (1971)
(Stefanović & Manuševa, 1971)

For three or more authors:

Stefanović et al. (1983)
(Stefanović et al., 1983)

For multiple references in the same parentheses:

(Ballian et al., 2014; Biondi et al., 2014; Dakskobler, 2003; Fukarek, 1970a, 1970b; Stefanović, 1964, 1984)

Multiple references should be arranged alphabetically.

Reference List

References must be arranged alphabetically by the surname of the first author.

For works with up to 20 authors, include all author names in the reference list. For works with 21 or more authors, include the first 19 authors, followed by an ellipsis, and then the final author.

Examples:

Journal article

Bergmeier, E., & Dimopoulos, P. (2001). Fagus sylvatica forest vegetation in Greece: Syntaxonomy and gradient analysis. Journal of Vegetation Science, 12(1), 109–126.

Conference paper

Brujić, J., & Stanivuković, Z. (2012). Vegetation of Crni vrh massif of Grmeč Mt: An introductory survey. In Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference “Forestry Science and Practice for the Purpose of Sustainable Development of Forestry – 20 Years of the Faculty of Forestry in Banja Luka” (pp. 245–264).

Book

Bucalo, V., Brujić, J., Travar, J., & Milanović, Đ. (2008). Flora prašumskog rezervata Lom. Univerzitet u Banjoj Luci, Šumarski fakultet.

Book chapter

Dinić, A. (2006). Pionirske zajednice obične breze. In D. M. Škorić (Ed.), Vegetacija Srbije II: Šumske zajednice 2 (pp. 19–27). Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti, Odeljenje hemijskih i bioloških nauka.

Thesis or dissertation

Tomić, Z. (1980). Fitocenoze crnoga graba (Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.) u Srbiji [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Univerzitet u Beogradu.

Legislation

Council of the European Communities. (1992). Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. Official Journal of the European Communities, L206, 7–50.

Zakon o zaštiti prirode Republike Srpske. (2014). Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske, 20/14, 20–38.

Reports, studies, and planning documents

Barudanović, S., Đonko, V., & Stupar, V. (2007). Elaboration of methodology and action plan for EU biodiversity protection standards scientific coordination. WWF Mediterranean Programme.

Bucalo, V., Cvjetićanin, R., Brujić, J., Travar, J., Stupar, V., Milanović, Đ., Gašić, B., & Gašić, R. (2006). Mogućnost izdvajanja zaštićenog područja Klekovača-Lom. Maga-projekt; Wald-projekt.

IRPC – JPŠ Šume Republike Srpske, Istraživačko-razvojni i projektni centar. (2001). Šumskoprivredna osnova za Banjalučko šumskoprivredno područje: Važnost 01.01.2001. do 31.12.2010. godine.

Website

The Plant List. (2013). The Plant List: Version 1.1. Retrieved October 8, 2015, from http://www.theplantlist.org/

Summary

Manuscripts written in Serbian must be accompanied by a summary in English. Manuscripts written in English must be accompanied by a summary in Serbian.

The summary should be more detailed than the abstract and may be up to one-tenth of the length of the main text. It should follow the general structure of the manuscript and may include selected references, as well as references to figures and tables.

Tables and Figures

Tables and figures must be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals according to their first appearance in the text.

Each table and figure must be cited in the text, for example:

Figure 1
Table 1

Each table and figure must have a clear and informative caption. Captions should provide enough information for the table or figure to be understandable without consulting the main text. The first sentence of the caption should serve as a brief title.

Captions and legends should be provided in both Serbian and English.

Tables should be submitted as separate editable files, preferably in Microsoft Excel format.

Vector graphics, such as diagrams, maps, and illustrations, should preferably be submitted in EPS or PDF format. Raster images should be submitted at the size intended for publication, preferably in TIFF format, with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any copyrighted tables, figures, photographs, maps, or other material.

Appendices and Supplementary Material

Material that is necessary for the article but would interrupt the logical flow of the main text may be included as an appendix.

Large tables, maps, datasets, additional photographs, methodological details, or other extensive supporting material may be submitted as supplementary material. Supplementary material will be made available online together with the article, but it may not be included in the main article file.

Each appendix and supplementary file must be numbered and cited in the text, for example:

Appendix 1
Supplementary Material 1

Units, Nomenclature, and Scientific Names

Authors should use standard scientific terminology and internationally accepted units of measurement.

Scientific names of taxa should be written in italics. At first mention, the full scientific name should be provided, including authorship where appropriate. Subsequent mentions may use abbreviated genus names where this does not cause ambiguity.

Authors should ensure consistency in taxonomic nomenclature and, where relevant, indicate the taxonomic source used.

Submission and Review

After submission, manuscripts undergo initial editorial screening. Manuscripts that do not fit the journal’s aims and scope, do not meet basic scientific or technical standards, or are not prepared according to these guidelines may be returned to the authors or rejected before peer review.

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent for double-blind peer review in accordance with the journal’s Peer Review Process policy.

Authors whose manuscripts require revision must submit a revised manuscript together with a response explaining how the comments of editors and reviewers have been addressed.

The final decision on acceptance, revision, or rejection is made by the Editor-in-Chief.