Public awareness and willingness to pay (WTP) for forest conservation in Malaysia

Abstract

Protecting forests and their wildlife from threats such as encroachment, illegal logging and poaching is vital to safeguard their existence for future generations, and is crucial for the balance of our ecosystem. The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) currently has a man-made forest under its protection where the forest area is managed sustainably and systematically to ensure the ecosystem in Kuala Lumpur remains in balance. In order to assess forest conservation and its impacts on the urban community, this study focuses on the level of public awareness for forest conservation and willingness to pay (WTP) to maintain the area. The importance and value of a forest are determined using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). The mean WTP is affected by household income and education level. This research provides a guideline for stakeholders in forest areas and evaluates public awareness via their WTP for forest conservation. Moreover, knowledge of forest conservation by communities helps governments in resolving common problems relating to forestry policy, administration, and management.