Abstract
In acknowledging the significant role of forestry on the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of local communities, this study focused on examining how different factors affect the intentional behavior towards community forestry among the poor households in Malaysia. Employing theory of planned behavior (TPB) in an expanded model, this study collected data from 420 underprivileged households from 10 states in Malaysia using a survey questionnaire. Final analysis is performed using two methods, one being the well-established, conventional way of partial least square–structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM); the other being a frontier technology of computing using artificial neural network (ANN), which is generated through a deep learning algorithm to achieve the maximum possible accuracy for each of the five scenarios aforementioned. The study found that perceived benefits (PB) and eco-literacy (EL) have a significant positive effect on the attitude towards environment (ATE) while normative belief (NB) and motivation (MO) have a significant positive effect on subjective norms (SUN). Perceived control (PC) has a significant positive effect on perceived behavioral control (PBC). ATE, SUN, and PBC have a significant positive effect on the intention towards community forestry (ITCF), whereas the ITCF has a significant positive effect on community forestry adoption behavior (CFAB). When formulating and enforcing carbon reduction and poverty elevating programs through community forestry, the Malaysian government should consider the perceptions of poor families and the prerogative from their special reference groups to enhance the perceived ability of the vulnerable groups for positive and effective pro-environmental behavior that can lead to sustainable forestry management.
Highlights
Environmental degradation in terms of large volumes of unhealthy emissions (e.g., CO2) causing global warming, greenhouse effect, acid rain, and other climate-change-related pollutions have raised people’s consciousness on environmental awareness and green lifestyle; wherein uncertainties regarding future access to fossil fuels along with the significant volume of carbon emissions being produced have been widely recognized as the current millennium’s largest challenges [1]
The issue is more relevant to emerging economies such as Malaysia, where rapid unsustainable growth can result in significant income inequalities along with socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities that continue to threaten the wellbeing of low-income communities in the country [2]
The results indicate that the attitude towards the environment has a relatively higher effect on the intention towards community forestry (ITCF) compared to subjective norms (SUN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC)
Summary
Environmental degradation in terms of large volumes of unhealthy emissions (e.g., CO2) causing global warming, greenhouse effect, acid rain, and other climate-change-related pollutions have raised people’s consciousness on environmental awareness and green lifestyle; wherein uncertainties regarding future access to fossil fuels along with the significant volume of carbon emissions being produced have been widely recognized as the current millennium’s largest challenges [1]. Sustainable development is found to prioritize the environmental (planet) dimension than its social (people) and economic (profit) pillars through concepts such as zero-growth, de-growth, and ecological economics [3]. By adopting the sustainable development goals, the world’s development agenda for future has shifted towards the ecological sustainability dimension, which is firmly integrated into development and poverty alleviating efforts [3]. In this context, sustainable forest management and participatory forestry are recognized as an effective approach to achieve ecological sustainability that significantly contributes towards sustainable development [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
