CITIZENS' ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION TOWARD ROOFTOP GARDENING IN CITY AREA

Abstract

Bangladesh, well known for its abundant green resources, has experienced rapid population growth and uncontrolled infrastructural development in cities, resulting in a loss of urban green spaces and environmental problem. Rooftop gardening has been proposed as a sustainable and affordable solution to mitigate these problems and create green spaces of cities in Bangladesh. This study assesses the social acceptance of rooftop gardens among city dwellers in Bangladesh. A descriptive quantitative study was conducted using convenient sampling methods. A total of 475 participants, including half of them male and another half female, were surveyed through an online Google form questionnaire in eight divisional cities and district areas across Bangladesh. Data were analyzed using SPSS and MS Excel, including descriptive statistics such as percentage distribution and chi-square test and inferential statistics such as correlation coefficient. The study found that approximately three quarter of respondents had positive attitude scores towards rooftop gardening, while almost a third had negative attitude scores indicating unwillingness. In terms of behavioral perceptions, nearly three quarter of respondents had positive scores, while almost a third had negative scores. The study also found associations between attitude, behavior, and socio-demographic factors such as sex (p<0.05). Furthermore, a positive linear association was observed between respondents' attitudes and behavioral perceptions towards rooftop gardening, as determined by the correlation coefficient. However, the study revealed that one third of respondents still had negative attitudes and just over a third had negative behavioral perceptions towards rooftop gardening. Therefore, effective policy measures and joint initiatives from the government and city municipalities are necessary to enhance the acceptance of rooftop gardens among the respondents.