Recently, New Zealand Plant Protection introduced new article types. This change is in line with the separation of the journal from the Society’s conference that was formalised at the 2019 AGM. The purpose of additional article types is to encourage a broader range of submissions from across the diversity of plant protection practitioners in New Zealand. Having a variety of article types conforms to the style of most national and international science journals and will hopefully stimulate more interest in the journal. In addition to the standard Research Articles (original research in the traditional format, no word limit) and Literature Reviews (comprehensive review of published literature plus an analysis of findings and summary of knowledge gaps), the Journal will now consider:
Research Notes: New science, succinctly presented (<2500 words), e.g. preliminary findings, small experiments, improved methodologies.
Applied Practices papers: Comparisons of methods or technologies applied to pest management, biosecurity surveillance, or pest eradication, and
Perspectives: Qualitative and balanced overview of a topic in <3000 words supported by published literature.
Go to the Journal’s website for further information on the scope and requirements for each article type. To assist authors, article templates are also available for each article type and can be downloaded from the website.
Traditionally, the Society’s conference is proceeded by a symposium on a specialised topic. This often resulted in a published symposium proceedings. It’s my hope, that in the future, symposium organisers will take on the role of guest editors, and produce special issues of the journal. Special issues are not limited to the Society’s symposia. In fact, a special issue is currently in progress, based on the 4th International Workshop on European canker, guest edited by Reiny Scheper and Monika Walter. If you are organising a conference or symposium on a plant protection related topic, and interested in producing a special of New Zealand Plant Protection, please contact the editor (Ruth Falshaw). The success of the journal depends on article submissions by the membership. As mentioned in previous communications, submissions can be made at any time. I hope that members of the Society will consider New Zealand Plant Protection as venue to publish their research.
Mike Cripps, President