Editorial

Abstract

In the Editorial of the first issue of Volume 59, published in March 2021, I reflected on the incredible medical research effort made in response to the pandemic. I raised the issue that if we are to solve the looming climate and biodiversity crises, then a similar effort will need to be made by ecologists and environmental researchers too. And, importantly, the general public will need to be persuaded by their research that action can and should be taken. In this issue, as usual we bring you research on a diverse selection of topics in African ecology, but I note that fourteen of our twenty-nine papers are directly concerned with the impacts of humans on species and habitats. Scientific journals play a crucial role in disseminating research results, but they usually only reach a small audience of other scientists. Driving change in the way humans manage the Earth needs the engagement of a much larger part of society. Another revelation the pandemic has brought us is the amazing ease with which we can talk and collaborate with people all over the globe. Social media and mobile phones with Internet connections are replacing printed matter, and even TV and radio, as the most effective ways to spread information. Social media have also made the discussions of published science more immediate, more multidisciplinary and more relevant to wider society. As conservationists, ecologists publishing research relevant to understanding and solving our environmental crises should also be making an effort to get that knowledge outside the purely scientific sector and into society. Handily, there are now several websites dedicated to showcasing environmental science and conservation. Indeed, a new genre of Internet journals has emerged, publishing scientists’ commentaries and discussions on the relevance and importance of recently published peer-reviewed research. These online conversations are accessible to non-specialists and are creating a much-needed bridge across the gap between science and society. The African Journal of Ecology will transfer to online-only publication by 2022. Although I feel quite nostalgic for the printed copies, online publication will allow us to deliver more research to society, more rapidly, and to share it more widely. Our publisher tracks the online uptake of the research we publish. There has been a steady increase in Internet downloads of our articles, with access to our publications doubling from 72,480 during 2016 to 135,500 downloads made during 2020. Downloads in March 2021 were again higher than for March 2020, and I fully expect the annual figure to grow again this year. This is clearly a valuable contribution as we go forward. I encourage all our authors and readers to continue to share our articles as widely as they can and to use online platforms to create discussions around their significance.