Joe Fontaine

We are pleased to report that the recently released 2024 journal metrics highlight a positive trajectory with regards to the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management (AJEM)’s visibility and scholarly impact. AJEM’s Impact Factor has increased to 1.5, up from 1.1 in 2023. The Journal Citation Indicator has also improved from 0.25 to 0.33, reflecting growing recognition of the journal’s influence in environmental research. Meanwhile, AJEM’s CiteScore has risen to 2.9 (from 2.6 in 2023), placing the journal in the Q2 quartile for Geography, Planning and Development. In percentile terms, AJEM now ranks 60th among 841 journals in Geography, Planning and Development and 46th among 406 journals in Management-related categories. These advancements reflect the high-quality contributions from our authors, the rigour of our reviewers and the ongoing support from our editorial board and readership. We thank you all for your continued commitment to strengthening the Journal’s standing and relevance.

In this editorial, we take the opportunity to bring together a group of interdisciplinary contributors to reflect on one of the most complex issues in environmental management in Australia and New Zealand, prescribed burning. This special focus features insights from fire ecologists, forestry and biodiversity specialists as well as and experts in environmental policy and governance. By engaging with these varied perspectives, we aim to deepen the conversation around the ecological, social and governance dimensions of prescribed burning and to move beyond disciplinary silos towards more integrated, informed and context-sensitive approaches to fire management. We invite you to explore the perspectives presented in this issue and to join us in advancing thoughtful, evidence-based and collaborative environmental management across Australasia and beyond.