Evaluating determinants of rural Villagers’ engagement in conservation and waste management behaviors based on integrated conceptual framework of Pro-environmental behavior

Piyapong Janmaimool,Chaweewan Denpaiboon

doi:10.1186/s40504-016-0045-3

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate determinants of villagers’ engagement in pro-environmental behavior (PEB), including ecological conservation behavior (ECB) and waste management behavior (WMB). An integrated exploratory model representing the proposed relationship between villagers’ engagement in ECB/WMB and their determinants was created based on the integration of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the Stern’s value belief norm (VBN) theory, environmental education and psychosocial characteristic perspectives. The potential predictors included a community norm, environmental knowledge, sense of obligation and self-efficacy, life satisfaction, place attachment, environmental worldview, perceived local environmental values, and psychosocial characteristics. Questionnaire surveys with villagers residing in the Nernkhor sub-district, Rayong province, Thailand, were conducted. The results of multiple regression analyses revealed that individuals’ engagement in ECB and WMB could be predicted by a different set of predictors. ECB was well predicted by self-efficacy, place identity, and perceived environmental values; whereas, WMB was well predicted by community norm, gender, age, knowledge related to action strategies, and self-efficacy. Therefore, different environmental strategies should be constructed to enhance the engagement of villagers in pro-environmental behaviors.

Highlights

Without proper development planning and strategies, human development activities have negative impacts on environmental quality and generate adverse consequences for natural ecological systems (Cui and Shi 2012; Haas et al 2015; Habibullah et al 2016). Haas et al (2015) demonstrated that Shanghai, China is facing a decrease in natural areas as urban areas rapidly increase by approximately 120%. Cui and Shi (2012) revealed Shanghai’s cultivated lands have been replaced with construction sites, buildings and infrastructure
This study aims to evaluate the determinants of pro-environmental behaviors of villagers, including ecological conservation behavior (ECB) and waste management behavior (WMB)
In this study, determinants of ECB and WMB were examined by means of multiple regression analyses

Summary

Introduction

Without proper development planning and strategies, human development activities have negative impacts on environmental quality and generate adverse consequences for natural ecological systems (Cui and Shi 2012; Haas et al 2015; Habibullah et al 2016). Haas et al (2015) demonstrated that Shanghai, China is facing a decrease in natural areas as urban areas rapidly increase by approximately 120%. Cui and Shi (2012) revealed Shanghai’s cultivated lands have been replaced with construction sites, buildings and infrastructure. Without proper development planning and strategies, human development activities have negative impacts on environmental quality and generate adverse consequences for natural ecological systems (Cui and Shi 2012; Haas et al 2015; Habibullah et al 2016). Haas et al (2015) demonstrated that Shanghai, China is facing a decrease in natural areas as urban areas rapidly increase by approximately 120%. As a consequence of too much emphasis on income generation without the consideration of the existence of natural systems and environments, cities and/or local authorities face the potential risk of environmental degradation and loss of natural resource values. Environmental responsibilities, should be laid with local communities and individuals as well since the way they live and consume resources significantly effects the environments in which they live

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Discussion

Conclusion