ECOCIENCIA, in line with its commitment to quality and rigor, has implemented a meticulous double-blind peer review process. This system, a fundamental pillar of the journal, ensures the impartiality and high standards of the published works. The complete process is detailed below:

Stage 1: Preliminary Review

1)Manuscript Submission:
Authors must submit their work anonymously through the Open Journal System (OJS).
The manuscript must include:

• The full article with no author-identifying information.
• An author information form containing the complete details of each author, including institutional affiliation and email address.

2)Initial Review:
Once the manuscript is received, the Editorial Committee conducts a preliminary evaluation to verify that it meets the following criteria:

• Originality: The work must be the result of original research and must not have been previously published in any other journal.
• Relevance: The subject matter must fall within the scope and areas of interest of ECOCIENCIA.
• Proper Structure: The manuscript must follow the structure and format established in the journal’s Author Guidelines.
• Compliance with Style Guidelines: The text must adhere to APA Style, 6th Edition.
• Absence of Plagiarism: The COMPILATIO system is used to detect potential cases of plagiarism. A maximum similarity index of 10% is accepted.

3)Possible Grounds for Rejection During the Initial Review:

• The subject does not align with the journal’s scope.
• The work is not original or has been previously published.
• The article’s structure is inadequate.
• The manuscript does not comply with the journal’s formatting and style guidelines.
• The submitted documentation is incomplete.

4)Duration of the Initial Review:
The initial evaluation may take up to 20 days.
Authors will be notified via email of the Editorial Committee’s decision—either to proceed with the peer review process or to inform them of the manuscript’s rejection.

Stage 2: Double-Blind Peer Review

1)Reviewer Assignment:
If the manuscript passes the initial review, the Editorial Committee assigns it to two external reviewers who are experts in the subject area.
Reviewers are selected either through an open call or by direct invitation to specialists in the field. Authors are not permitted to suggest reviewers.
It is important to note that reviewers do not receive financial compensation for their work, but they are issued a certificate of recognition for their contribution.

              2)Reviewer Profile:

• Reviewers must hold a postgraduate degree (Ph.D., Master's, or Specialization).
• They must have extensive experience in the research areas covered by ECOCIENCIA.
• It is essential that they have published in prestigious indexed scientific journals.

3)Peer Review Process:
Reviewers have four weeks to anonymously evaluate the manuscript using the OJS platform.
The platform provides them with the article without any identifying author information, along with an evaluation form in which they must issue their verdict and provide comments on the manuscript.

               4)Possible Reviewer Decisions:

• Publishable without modifications: The manuscript meets the high-quality standards of the journal and does not require substantial changes.
• Publishable with modifications: The work has potential for publication but requires some improvements or corrections suggested by the reviewers.
• Resubmit for review: The manuscript requires more in-depth revision, and the authors are asked to make significant adjustments.
• Not publishable: The manuscript does not meet the quality and scientific rigor required by ECOCIENCIA.

5)Third Reviewer:
If the evaluations of the two reviewers are conflicting, a third reviewer is assigned to issue a final decision.
The third reviewer has a period of two weeks to evaluate the manuscript and provide their opinion.

6)Return to Authors:
If the manuscript is approved with modifications, it is returned to the authors along with the reviewers’ comments and suggestions.
Authors have a maximum of 20 calendar days to make the requested corrections and resubmit the manuscript.

7)Final Evaluation:
Once the authors have submitted the revised version, the Editorial Committee reviews it to verify that the reviewers’ recommendations have been addressed and that the manuscript meets the journal’s quality standards.

8)Final Decision:
The Editorial Committee communicates the final decision—acceptance or rejection of the manuscript—to the authors.
If accepted, the authors are informed of the publication date of the article in ECOCIENCIA.

Total Duration of the Peer Review Process:
The entire peer review process, from manuscript submission to the final decision, may take up to 12 weeks.
Due to the journal’s quarterly publication schedule and open call for submissions, the maximum time from receipt to publication of the article may extend to 16 weeks.

Transparent Communication:
ECOCIENCIA is committed to maintaining open and clear communication with authors throughout the peer review process.
Authors will be informed of any delays in the evaluation of their manuscript.
In cases of prolonged delays, authors are offered the option to withdraw their manuscript from the journal.

Through its rigorous double-blind peer review process, ECOCIENCIA ensures the publication of high-impact research, contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge and the well-being of society.