75 free-to-publish Scopus journals in Ecology
75 peer-reviewed journals in the SCImago category Ecology charge no APC and no other author fees, according to the DOAJ. The quartile shown is the journal’s quartile in this category (not its best one elsewhere): 5 are Q1 and 14 Q2 here. Data snapshot: October 2026.
Of the Scopus-ranked journals here, 31% are Q1 or Q2 (site-wide: 40%). Their median self-reported time from submission to publication is 16 weeks. Most are published in Italy (7), Spain (6) and Poland (6). 99% accept manuscripts in English and 43% accept at least one other language.
All 75 free-to-publish journals in Ecology
Sorted by best SCImago quartile, then SJR. Click a column header to sort by it; click a second column to add a tiebreak. The search box narrows the list. Time to publish is the journal’s own DOAJ figure (average weeks from submission to publication).
| # | Journal | Quartile | SJR | H-index | Publisher | Country | Time to publish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation 2530-0644 | Q1 | 1.376 | 55 | Elsevier | Netherlands | 45 wk |
| 2 | Journal of Political Ecology 1073-0451 | Q1 | 1.187 | 48 | University of Arizona Libraries | United States | 17 wk |
| 3 | Environmental Humanities 2201-1919 | Q1 | 1.072 | 24 | Duke University Press | United States | 20 wk |
| 4 | Aquaculture and Fisheries 2468-550X | Q1 | 0.901 | 41 | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. | China | 19 wk |
| 5 | Web Ecology 2193-3081 · 1399-1183 | Q1 | 0.768 | 26 | Copernicus Publications | Germany | 17 wk |
| 6 | iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry 1971-7458 | Q2 | 0.513 | 44 | Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology (SISEF) | Italy | 40 wk |
| 7 | Water Science 1110-4929 · 2357-0008 | Q2 | 0.507 | 31 | Springer Nature | Switzerland | 18 wk |
| 8 | Journal of Landscape Ecology 1805-4196 | Q2 | 0.497 | 21 | Sciendo | Poland | 16 wk |
| 9 | Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems 1961-9502 | Q2 | 0.475 | 41 | EDP Sciences | France | 12 wk |
| 10 | Biogeographia 1594-7629 · 2475-5257 | Q2 | 0.47 | 13 | eScholarship Publishing, University of California | United States | 28 wk |
| 11 | Mires and Peat 1819-754X | Q2 | 0.46 | 27 | International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society | Germany | 50 wk |
| 12 | Journal of Pollination Ecology 1920-7603 | Q2 | 0.448 | 11 | Enviroquest Ltd. | Canada | 17 wk |
| 13 | Limnetica 0213-8409 · 1989-1806 | Q2 | 0.446 | 41 | Asociación Ibérica de Limnología | Spain | 24 wk |
| 14 | Annals of Forest Research 1844-8135 · 2065-2445 | Q2 | 0.419 | 29 | ‘Marin Drăcea’ National Research-Development Institute in Forestry | Romania | 12 wk |
| 15 | Ecología Austral 0327-5477 · 1667-782X | Q2 | 0.397 | 37 | Asociación Argentina de Ecología | Argentina | 47 wk |
| 16 | Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics 1611-8014 | Q2 | 0.388 | 25 | Inter-Research | Germany | 40 wk |
| 17 | Folia Oecologica 1338-7014 | Q2 | 0.388 | 17 | Sciendo | Poland | 38 wk |
| 18 | Annals of Silvicultural Research 2284-354X | Q2 | 0.387 | 18 | Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Research Centre for Forestry and Wood | Italy | 20 wk |
| 19 | Nature Conservation Research: Заповедная наука 2500-008X | Q2 | 0.383 | 20 | Fund for Support and Development of Protected Areas "Bear Land" | Russia | 20 wk |
| 20 | Mediterranean Botany 2603-9109 | Q3 | 0.375 | 21 | Universidad Complutense de Madrid | Spain | 12 wk |
| 21 | Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia 2179-975X | Q3 | 0.368 | 29 | Associação Brasileira de Limnologia | Brazil | 50 wk |
| 22 | Fennia: International Journal of Geography 0015-0010 · 1798-5617 | Q3 | 0.361 | 30 | Geographical Society of Finland | Finland | 16 wk |
| 23 | New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 0048-0134 · 1179-5395 | Q3 | 0.344 | 39 | Scion | New Zealand | 39 wk |
| 24 | Polish Polar Research 0138-0338 · 2081-8262 | Q3 | 0.34 | 37 | Polish Academy of Sciences | Poland | 26 wk |
| 25 | Botanica Pacifica 2226-4701 · 2410-3713 | Q3 | 0.339 | 13 | FEB RAS, Botanical Garden-Institute | Russia | 6 wk |
| 26 | Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science 0856-860X · 2683-6416 | Q3 | 0.339 | 9 | Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association | Tanzania | 40 wk |
| 27 | Ecology, Economy and Society – The INSEE Journal 2581-6152 · 2581-6101 | Q3 | 0.322 | 9 | Nandan Nawn | India | 14 wk |
| 28 | Fragmenta entomologica 0429-288X · 2284-4880 | Q3 | 0.318 | 12 | University La Sapienza of Rome | Italy | 10 wk |
| 29 | Natura Croatica 1330-0520 · 1848-7386 | Q3 | 0.303 | 25 | Croatian Natural History Museum | Croatia | 20 wk |
| 30 | Геология и геофизика Юга России 2221-3198 · 2686-7486 | Q3 | 0.297 | 11 | Vladikavkaz Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Geophysical Institute | Russia | 8 wk |
| 31 | NAMMCO Scientific Publications 1560-2206 · 2309-2491 | Q3 | 0.286 | 9 | Septentrio Academic Publishing | Norway | 40 wk |
| 32 | Вісник Харківського національного університету імені В.Н. Каразіна. Серія Геологія. Географія. Екологія 2410-7360 · 2411-3913 | Q3 | 0.284 | 5 | V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University | Ukraine | 6 wk |
| 33 | Botanica 2538-8649 · 2538-8657 | Q3 | 0.275 | 9 | Nature Research Centre | Lithuania | 10 wk |
| 34 | Turczaninowia 1560-7259 · 1560-7267 | Q3 | 0.272 | 14 | Altay State University | Russia | 12 wk |
| 35 | The Holistic Approach to Environment 1848-0071 | Q3 | 0.27 | 7 | Association for Promotion of Holistic Approach to Environment | Croatia | 10 wk |
| 36 | Croatian Journal of Fisheries 1330-061X · 1848-0586 | Q3 | 0.264 | 19 | Sciendo | Poland | 10 wk |
| 37 | Revista de Estudios Latinoamericanos sobre Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres 0719-8477 | Q3 | 0.262 | 8 | Corporación Gestión de Riesgos y Desastres GRID-Chile | Chile | 8 wk |
| 38 | Wildfowl 0954-6324 · 2052-6458 | Q3 | 0.261 | 27 | Wildfowl Press | United Kingdom | 90 wk |
| 39 | Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 2287-884X · 2287-9544 | Q3 | 0.259 | 30 | Elsevier | Netherlands | 10 wk |
| 40 | Aestimum 1592-6117 · 1724-2118 | Q3 | 0.257 | 17 | Firenze University Press | Italy | 12 wk |
| 41 | Squalen 2089-5690 · 2406-9272 | Q3 | 0.253 | 11 | Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan | Indonesia | 16 wk |
| 42 | Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina 0373-5680 · 1851-7471 | Q3 | 0.245 | 9 | Sociedad Entomológica Argentina | Argentina | 20 wk |
| 43 | Theriologia Ukrainica 2616-7379 · 2617-1120 | Q3 | 0.243 | 5 | National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. National Museum of Natural History | Ukraine | 25 wk |
| 44 | Поволжский экологический журнал 1684-7318 · 2541-8963 | Q3 | 0.241 | 6 | KMK Scientific Press Ltd. | Russia | 9 wk |
| 45 | Ecosistemas 1132-6344 · 1697-2473 | Q3 | 0.234 | 27 | Asociación Española de Ecología Terrestre | Spain | 5 wk |
| 46 | Physio-Géo 1958-573X | Q3 | 0.232 | 7 | Physio-Géo | France | 10 wk |
| 47 | European Journal of Ecology 1339-8474 | Q3 | 0.231 | 16 | University of Kansas Libraries | United States | 11 wk |
| 48 | Flora Montiberica 1138-5952 · 1988-799X | Q3 | 0.23 | 9 | Flora Montiberica.org | Spain | 5 wk |
| 49 | Ekológia (Bratislava) 1337-947X | Q3 | 0.228 | 27 | Sciendo | Poland | 10 wk |
| 50 | Revista Chapingo: Serie Ciencias Forestales y del Ambiente 2007-3828 · 2007-4018 | Q3 | 0.223 | 17 | Universidad Autónoma Chapingo | Mexico | 48 wk |
| 51 | نامه انجمن حشرهشناسی ایران 0259-9996 · 2783-3968 | Q3 | 0.222 | 6 | Entomological Society of Iran | Iran | 12 wk |
| 52 | The Iranian Journal of Botany 1029-788X · 2383-1685 | Q3 | 0.221 | 6 | Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands of Iran | Iran | 6 wk |
| 53 | Biota Colombiana 0124-5376 · 2539-200X | Q3 | 0.216 | 7 | Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt | Colombia | 30 wk |
| 54 | Asian Fisheries Science 0116-6514 · 2073-3720 | Q4 | 0.211 | 18 | Asian Fisheries Society | Malaysia | 20 wk |
| 55 | Italian Journal of Mycology 2531-7342 | Q4 | 0.209 | 9 | University of Bologna | Italy | 24 wk |
| 56 | Folia Malacologica 1506-7629 · 2300-7125 | Q4 | 0.208 | 7 | The Association of Polish Malacologists in cooperation with The Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań & Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe | Poland | 12 wk |
| 57 | Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa” 1223-2254 · 2247-0735 | Q4 | 0.207 | 7 | Pensoft Publishers | Bulgaria | 12 wk |
| 58 | تاکسونومی و بیوسیستماتیک 2008-8906 · 2322-2190 | Q4 | 0.207 | 6 | University of Isfahan | Iran | 14 wk |
| 59 | Revista Catalana de Dret Ambiental 2014-038X | Q4 | 0.202 | 7 | Generalitat de Catalunya; Universitat Rovira i Virgili | Spain | 8 wk |
| 60 | International Journal of Aquatic Biology 2383-0956 · 2322-5270 | Q4 | 0.201 | 12 | University of Tehran | Iran | 10 wk |
| 61 | رستنیها 1608-4306 · 2423-6608 | Q4 | 0.198 | 5 | Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization | Iran | 12 wk |
| 62 | Revue d’Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux 0035-1865 · 1951-6711 | Q4 | 0.195 | 12 | CIRAD | France | 48 wk |
| 63 | Banko Janakari 1016-0582 · 2631-2301 | Q4 | 0.192 | 7 | Forest Research and Training Centre | Nepal | 8 wk |
| 64 | Biotropia: The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Biology 0215-6334 · 1907-770X | Q4 | 0.187 | 17 | SEAMEO, BIOTROP | Indonesia | 30 wk |
| 65 | Pirineos: Revista de Ecología de Montaña 0373-2568 · 1988-4281 | Q4 | 0.167 | 18 | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas | Spain | 28 wk |
| 66 | Ukrainian Botanical Journal 0372-4123 · 2415-8860 | Q4 | 0.167 | 6 | Publishing House "Akademperiodyka" | Ukraine | 10 wk |
| 67 | Neilreichia 1681-5947 · 3061-0664 | Q4 | 0.159 | 4 | Verein zur Erforschung der Flora Österreichs | Austria | 30 wk |
| 68 | Rivista Italiana di Ornitologia - Research in Ornithology 0035-6875 · 2385-0833 | Q4 | 0.158 | 4 | PAGEPress Publications | Italy | 12 wk |
| 69 | Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai. Biologia 2065-9512 | Q4 | 0.158 | 4 | Cluj University Press | Romania | 34 wk |
| 70 | Трансформация экосистем 2619-094X · 2619-0931 | Q4 | 0.158 | 4 | Cherepovets State University | Russia | 16 wk |
| 71 | Revista Kawsaypacha 2523-2894 · 2709-3689 | Q4 | 0.147 | 4 | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú | Peru | 16 wk |
| 72 | Exploratory Animal and Medical Research 2277-470X · 2319-247X | Q4 | 0.146 | 10 | West Bengal Veterinary Alumni Association | India | 20 wk |
| 73 | Tichodroma 1337-026X · 2644-4992 | Q4 | 0.13 | 3 | Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology | Slovakia | 10 wk |
| 74 | Relations 2283-3196 · 2280-9643 | Q4 | 0.116 | 7 | LED Edizioni Universitarie | Italy | 20 wk |
| 75 | Ukrainian Journal of Forest and Wood Science Scopus: discontinued 2664-4452 · 2664-4460 | – | – | 8 | National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine | Ukraine | 18 wk |
Where these journals come from
Top publishers
- Sciendo 4
- Elsevier 2
- ‘Marin Drăcea’ National Research-Development Institute in Forestry 1
- Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization 1
- Altay State University 1
- Asian Fisheries Society 1
About this list
Diamond open access (also called Platinum) means the journal is free to read and free to publish in: the DOAJ records it with “APC: no” and “other fees: no”. Quartiles come from the latest SCImago edition: Q1 is the top 25% of journals in a subject category, Q4 the bottom 25%; the lists show a journal’s best quartile. Read more in our open access guide.
Before submitting, always confirm the journal on its own website and in the DOAJ, verify Scopus indexing by ISSN with the Scopus check rather than trusting claims on the journal’s site, and watch out for look-alike titles (see the predatory journal checklist).