Effects of the perceived trustworthiness of the government and connectedness to nature on payments for ecosystem services: A case study of national parks in South Korea

Abstract

National parks, generally known as public lands, allow people to experience diverse ecosystem services. However, some parts of the national parks, known as inholdings, remain privately owned. This has caused conflicts among different stakeholders, particularly concerning the conservation of these inholdings. The government wants to resolve these conflicts by compensating landowners through taxation financing amounting to the value of the lands, a scheme known as payments for ecosystem services (PES). However, before implementing this type of environmental policy, it is essential to understand whether the public would support it. This study therefore aims to examine how some factors—perceived trustworthiness of the government, connectedness to nature, attitudes, and subjective norms—are interconnected in influencing support for PES. Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The study results revealed that while all relationships were significant, perceived trustworthiness was a key factor. The study also discusses the theoretical and practical implications. The study demonstrated the importance of improving trustworthiness of the government and strengthen the connectedness to nature to promote the public support for payment for ecosystem services. It is recommended that the government to hold regular public meetings to address new environmental policies to all relevant stakeholders. Through these meetings, the government should improve the public’s trustworthiness by demonstrating their integrity, benevolence, and ability. To enhance perceived integrity, decision making processes involving proposed policies need to be transparent and reliable. Furthermore, the government should maximize public benefits while demonstrating its ability to achieve policy goals and secure the public interest. In addition, educating people about the importance of the ecosystem services provided by forests could prove crucial in enhancing their emotional connection with nature.