Local participation in community forest management using theory of planned behaviour: evidence from Udon Thani Province, Thailand

Abstract

Effective participatory management of natural resources is critical for long-term environmental sustainability and the well-being of the local population. This study used the theory of planned behaviour to examine participation in community forest management. Primary data were collected through household survey, and hypotheses were tested by using the structural equation modelling approach. The empirical results revealed that attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and self-efficacy are significant predictors of local participation. The results further showed that individuals aged 46–60 years, farmers and those earning at least 20,001 Thai Baht per month were more likely to have positive attitudes towards participation in community forest management programs. Therefore, the government should consider intensifying efforts to engage these groups in participatory policy-making.