Study of citizens' environmental behaviors using the theory of value-belief-norm: a case study of urban forests in Khorramabad

Document Type : Scientific article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, I. R. Iran

2 Associate Professor, Forestry Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, I. R. Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Rural Development, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, I. R. Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Human behavior can lead to the destruction of various ecosystems, including urban forests. To prevent this destruction, it is necessary for human behavior to shift towards an environmentally friendly approach. Environmental behavior of individuals is influenced by various human and environmental factors and varies among different individuals and environments. Understanding this behavior requires a detailed examination of individual and social circumstances. Given the role and importance of urban forests in environmental conservation, the environmental behavior of visitors to urban forests is a prominent and significant topic that can contribute to the effective management of these urban resources. Studying the attitudes and behaviors of visitors to urban forests in order to engage them in the management of this green component of the city is an important step in conservation management and the development of participatory programs. Therefore, this research aims to contribute to the understanding and prediction of the participatory behavior of visitors to urban forests by examining the determinants of their environmental behavior.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the urban forests of Khorramabad, located in Lorestan province. The statistical population of this research consisted of visitors over the age of 15 to the urban forests of Khorramabad. The sample size of the study was calculated as 384 individuals based on the krejcie-Morgan table. To increase accuracy, a higher number of samples were taken, and ultimately 401 individuals were included in the calculations as the final sample size. The samples were randomly selected from different parks in the city. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect study data. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed and confirmed based on face validity (opinions of university faculty members and experts in forestry, rural extention, urban planning, and social sciences) and convergent validity based on extracted variance. In addition, the reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability. According to the results of the investigation, it was determined that the variables used in the research have good reliability. Considering the research objectives, the SPSS software was used for qualitative data analysis, and the Smart PLS software was used to examine the relationships between independent and dependent variables in the form of structural equations and to test research hypotheses.
Results: According to the results obtained from the study, the first hypothesis of the research was confirmed (t = 8.778, p-value = 0.000), indicating a significant effect of individuals' orientation ecological values on their ecological worldview. Furthermore, the results of the study showed a significant relationship (t = 3.129, p-value = 0.000) between the altruistic values and the ecological worldview of visitors to urban forests in Khorramabad (second hypothesis). However, the findings indicated that the egostic values had no significant relationship (t = 1.829, p-value = 0.450) with the ecological worldview of visitors to urban forests, and therefore the third hypothesis was not confirmed. Based on the findings of the research, it was determined that the fourth hypothesis, based on the significant relationship between the ecological worldview of visitors and their awareness of the consequences of urban forest destruction (t = 9.997, p-value = 0.000), as well as the significant relationship between visitors' awareness of forest destruction consequences and their sense of responsibility (t = 8.921, p-value = 0.000) was confirmed. The sixth hypothesis, which was about the significant relationship between visitors' sense of responsibility and their personal norms (t = 21.926, p-value = 0.000), and the seventh hypothesis, which was about the significant relationship between visitors' personal norms and their environmental behavior (t = 97.075, p-value = 0.000), were also confirmed. Overall, the variables used in the study explained 80.4% of the variance in the conservative behavior of visitors to urban forests in Khorramabad. Comparing all the values obtained from the fit indices of the belief-attitude-norm model with the desired values showed that these values were all within the standard range and had appropriate fit based on the provided fit indices. In general, structural equation modeling indicated a good fit for the research's structural model.
Conclusion: Considering that environmental behavior is one of the key elements of sustainable environment management. this variable can be related to effective conservation of urban forests. Studying the environmental behavior of citizens as the most important component of participatory management of these resources can be a fundamental and initial step in the conservation of urban forests. Therefore, examining the environmental behavior of citizens is important for minimizing the negative impact of human activities on the environment and improving it. Environmental behaviors not only have a positive effect on improving environmental quality but also create a healthy and positive life for individuals in society. Suitable educational approaches are needed to preserve urban forests, which can promote knowledge, behavior, and environmental attitudes. In this regard, efforts should be made to identify factors that influence citizens' inclination to preserve urban forests because with an understanding of these factors, ways can be provided to change destructive behavior and encourage positive behaviors.

Keywords

References

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Forest Research and Development
Volume 10, Issue 2
September 2024
Pages 241-260

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