Conservative Behavior Research Articles

Farmers’ Awareness of Land Degradation in the Dry Zone Rain-fed Uplands: The Case of Ranpathwila Cascaded Tank Village System, Sri Lanka

Purpose: The Rain-fed uplands of Cascaded Tank Village Systems (CTVS) in the Sri Lankan dry zone are degrading while challenging the food security, economy and ecological sustainability of the nation. Farmers’ unawareness of land degradation (LD), and irresponsibility for land conservation are often accused of the LD, yet with limited empirical evidence. Therefore, this study aims at providing empirical evidence on farmers’ awareness of LD by investigating farmers’ perceived indicators and causes of LD i.e., deforestation, soil erosion, soil fertility decline, and their perceived responsibility to halt LD.Research Method: A questionnaire survey was administered among conveniently sampled 291 farmers in the Ranpathiwila CTVS area along with interviews and field observations. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including Multiple response analysis in SPSS 18.Findings: Farmers are aware of LD by physically examining and qualitatively assessing the relevant indicators of LD (E.g., onsite and offsite, and present and past consequences of LD) and recognizing both relevant natural and anthropogenic causes of LD. Moreover, farmers’ awareness embraces the holistic nature of their land resources. Although farmers feel high moral responsibility for the causes of LD, they feel low or partial moral responsibility to take action to halt LD.Value: The empirical evidence provides a basis for policymakers to avoid stereotyping of land-users as ignorant of LD in conservation interventions, thus suggesting to consider possible other factors affecting farmers’ conservation behavior.

Exploring behavioral determinants of residents’ ecological conservation in rural tourism development

This study explores the residents’ behavioral determinants of ecological conservation in rural tourism development, focusing on resident participation to promote sustainable development in the tourism industry. By integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Norm Activation Model (NAM), it examines the roles of subjective norm, responsibility attribution, ecological environmental risk perception, and human capital in shaping ecological conservation behavior. Based on data from 331 valid responses collected through a questionnaire survey, structural equation model (SEM) was performed using SPSS and AMOS to analyze ecological conservation behavior. The findings reveal that subjective norm and responsibility attribution significantly enhance ecological protection intention, which subsequently boosts ecological protection behavior. The relationship between subjective norm and behavior is mediated by intention, while ecological environmental risk perception positively moderates the subjective norm-behavior relationship. Additionally, human capital positively and significantly moderates the intention-behavior relationship. Significant differences in ecological conservation behavior were found based on gender and age, with men and women, as well as different age groups, responding uniquely to the ecological intention and the ecological environmental risk perception. To promote sustainable tourism development, targeted policy recommendations were put forward.

Pacific Proving Grounds-Derived 236U and 233U: Potential Tracers for Western North Pacific Ocean Dynamics.

236U and 233U are proven to be useful tracers to investigate upper-ocean hydrodynamics due to their source-specific isotopic ratios and conservative behaviors in the open ocean. However, their application in the Pacific Ocean has been limited by scarce observations and unclear source-term information. Here, we present our observations of 236U and 233U in the western North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPStG), showing the presence of a source of anthropogenic U featured by a low 233U/236U ratio (∼1 × 10-3), which is an order of magnitude lower than the global fallout signature (∼2 × 10-2). The analyses of soil from the tropical Pacific atolls confirmed that this anthropogenic U originates from thermonuclear weapon tests conducted at the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG). We further estimated that PPG tests released at least 50 kg of 236U and 48 g of 233U into the Equatorial North Pacific Ocean in the mid-to-late 1950s. After 70 years of redistribution, the PPG-derived U has become the predominant contributor (∼70%) to the 236U inventory in the western NPStG. This work's findings highlight the potential of 236U and 233U as paired transient tracers to investigate the advection and mixing processes in the western NPStG, which are absent for the boundary currents currently.

Factors and paths influencing students’ low-carbon behavior

The study of low-carbon behavior is significant for coping with climate change, resource conservation, environmental protection, sustainable development, and social behavior. Many factors affect low-carbon behaviors. Through investigation and analysis, the five factors of educational measures, low-carbon knowledge, economic measures, low-carbon awareness, and herd mentality were found to significantly influence low-carbon behavior. College students were selected as the research subjects using structural equation modelling methods. This work aims to study the impact of these five factors on low-carbon behavior. The results show that (1) low-carbon awareness has the most direct and significant effect on low-carbon behavior; (2) economic measures and low-carbon knowledge have a direct positive impact on low-carbon behavior; and (3) educational measures and herd mentality show only indirect effects. The theoretical model framework proposed in this study provides a reference for research on the low-carbon behaviors of other groups. In addition, some suggestions are proposed to promote the low-carbon behavior of college students: (1) establish a good low-carbon campus culture; (2) formulate reasonable low-carbon economic incentive measures; and (3) strengthen the publicity and popularization of low-carbon education and knowledge.

Studying how AI-Driven Social Media Campaigns can be used to Promote Awareness of educational Programs, School Enrollment, Public Health Education, or Environmental Education

This research study will examine how social media campaigns by artificial intelligence are influencing education, public health, and environmental conservation awareness and behavior change. The sample for this research was 450 teachers from the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, and the data were analyzed through correlation analysis, regression analysis, and ANOVA to check the impact of campaign engagement across all demographic factors. The outcomes established significant positive correlations between engagements in AI-driven social media advertisements for the educational programmes, public health education, and environmental behaviors. Further, regression analysis indicated that increased engagement on these campaigns had a significant impact on behavior change such as improved public health behaviors, school enrollment, and environmental practices. The ANOVA results revealed that demographic factors-which include age, gender, and location-influence the effectiveness of AI-driven campaigns in driving the mentioned changes. The findings of this study show that AI-driven interventions are capable of changing behavior and increasing awareness within key societal areas, and the results call for more personalized campaigns according to the respective demographic profiles. It supports the emerging literature in this area of using AI to bring social impact, through education, health, and sustainability.

The Impact of Protective Policies on Farmers’ Black Soil Conservation Behaviors: Empirical Insights from Sanjiang Plain, China

Understanding the logic of farmers’ black soil conservation behaviors and promoting these actions are crucial measures for enhancing soil quality and ensuring national food security. This article uses survey data from 676 farmers in typical black soil areas of the Sanjiang Plain, China, employing binary logistic regression and mediation effect models to empirically examine the impact of protective policies on farmers’ black soil conservation behaviors and the mediating effect of their perceptions. The results indicate: (1) Protective policies have a significant positive effect on farmers’ black soil conservation behaviors. (2) Farmers’ perception of black soil conservation plays a crucial mediating role in the impact of policy guidance on conservation behaviors. Protective policy not only directly influences farmers’ behaviors but also indirectly promotes conservation actions by shaping farmers’ sense of responsibility and awareness of obligations. (3) There are variations in the mediating effects of farmers’ cognition based on different types of cultivated land and operational scales. Therefore, efforts should be made to strengthen the promotion and implementation of black soil protection policies and subsidies to enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of conservation practices. Greater emphasis should be placed on policy advocacy to raise farmers’ sense of responsibility and awareness of the importance of black soil conservation. Additionally, the diverse needs of different types of farming households should be considered, and a range of measures should be implemented to encourage active participation in black soil conservation.

Motivational drivers and the effectiveness of conservation incentives

The debate about how external incentives (e.g., payments for ecosystem services) and internal motivations (e.g., intrinsic values) interact in producing conservation outcomes is still unresolved. This paper examines the role of personal values (biospheric and egoistic) as intrinsic motivational drivers for conservation and their potential to affect conditional payments to enhance conservation behavior. We used a lab-in-the-field experiment with rural farmers in two ecological corridors of Tanzania to assess their conservation behavior under two payment modalities, namely a fixed individual payment and a fixed individual payment with an agglomeration bonus. In addition, a post-experiment survey was conducted to determine the levels of personal value endorsement for each individual participant. We consistently found that biospheric values increased conservation behavior, while egoistic values decreased it. The positive effect of biospheric values was higher than the negative effect of egoistic values. Both payments do not seem to affect the conservation behavior of farmers with high biospheric value endorsement. Heterogeneity in personal values thus likely has economic implications for the design of real-world PES schemes. Our results suggest that educational investments in training future generations of farmers with strong pro-environmental values can reduce future pressure on the environment and the costs of associated policy action. Areas for further research are discussed.

Current Knowledge on Craniodental Anatomy and Dental Pathology in Golden Snub‐Nosed Monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana): A Comparative Review

ABSTRACTThe Sichuan golden snub‐nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is a rare and endangered species endemic to China that occupies a particularly important position in the evolutionary history of Rhinopithecus species. Oral health is a crucial aspect of overall well‐being in both humans and nonhuman primates. We review the current limited literature on the dental characteristics and dental pathologies related to the golden snub‐nosed monkey, based on skeleton data and morphological evidence. The results indicated that this species possesses dental characteristics that are remarkably different from that of other primates such as larger‐sized molars with blunt cusp crests, tiny incisor teeth, and strong mandibles with well‐developed masticatory muscles. From limited research, dental diseases include caries, periodontal diseases, tooth loss, tooth wear, and other diseases, which can be found in most primates, including golden snub‐nosed monkeys. In conclusion, these physiological features have gradually adapted to different environments to meet the requirements of their function. Understanding the tooth characteristics and dental health status of R. roxellana can provide valuable insights into their evolutionary history, dietary habits, and overall health, which is of great significance for the conservation of the entire population. An epidemiological survey and safe and effective inspection methods of the dental health of golden snub‐nosed monkeys should be conducted to facilitate conservation behaviors that presented in the future. It is also recommended that zoos link diet and dental health to improve animal welfare.

Factors Influencing Forest Resource Conservation Behavior of the Youth in Northern Uplands, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

The government of Laos has made significant efforts to halt deforestation and promote forest conservation in the Northern Uplands of Laos. However, there is no comprehensive assessment of the initiatives and factors that influence youth involvement in forest resource conservation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify sustainable forest management practices and factors affecting youth behaviors related to forest conservation. Methodologically, our study was conducted in three districts, covering 15 villages, with 330 youths who were selected by systematic sampling to participate in structured interviews, statistically using multiple regressions to identify factors influencing sustainable forest management behaviors. The results indicated that conservation knowledge and recognition are associated with demographic and socioeconomic factors, especially education. Factors related to forest conservation recognition included the amount of information available, gender, monthly income, land ownership, and distance from the forest to home. Most households rely on forest products for their livelihoods. It is concluded that higher levels of education provide people with more job opportunities, which improves their job status and quality of life. Community members who received relevant information were more forward-thinking in their forest management behaviors and willing to contribute to related activities. The empirical evidence indicated that providing essential information to young people can help improve sustainable forest management behaviors.

Validity and Reliability Study of the Turkish Form of the Pro-Nature Conservation Behavior Scale

Objective: This study aims to adapt the Pro-Nature Conservation Behavior Scale, which was developed to identify pro-nature conservation behaviors, into Turkish. Method: For the validity and reliability study, 371 participants were included in the study. The suitability of the scale for Turkish culture was tested with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Results: The scale, which consists of 18 items in total, has 4 sub-dimensions (Individual engagement, planting, collective engagement , wildlife). Overall Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale was .85; .73 for the individual engagement factor, .86 for the planting factor, .71 for the collective engagement factor and .61 for the wildlife factor, and convergent validity was supported by positive correlations with the Environmental Behavior Scale, the New Ecological Paradigm Scale, the Generalized Self-Esteem Scale and the Warnick-Edinburg Mental Well-Being Scale. Conclusion: Pro-Nature Conservation Behavior Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used in Türkiye.

Leveraging Loss Aversion and Self-Efficacy: The Role of Water Pricing and Risk in Driving Individual Innovation for Sustainable Water Consumption

Water scarcity is a growing global challenge, requiring effective management strategies to ensure sustainable water use, particularly in regions like West Dorset, U.K., where rising prices and environmental pressures make sustainable consumption practices essential. This study develops and empirically tests an integrated theoretical framework combining Prospect Theory (PT) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to examine the mechanisms driving household water conservation. Using structural equation modelling on data from 429 residents in West Dorset (response rate 78.3%), we investigated how water pricing (WP) and perceived water risk (PWR) influence sustainable water consumption through individual innovativeness (II) and community engagement (CE), with environmental regulations (ERs) as a moderator. The results revealed significant positive effects of WP and PWR on individual innovativeness, which, in turn, strongly predicted community engagement. The relationship between these factors and sustainable water consumption was significantly moderated by ERs. This study makes three key contributions: Firstly, it empirically validates an integrated PT-SCT framework in water conservation behavior. Secondly, it identifies the crucial mediating role of II in translating price and risk perceptions into community action; and lastly, it demonstrates how regulatory frameworks can enhance or inhibit conservation outcomes. These findings inform policy recommendations for tiered pricing structures, community-based conservation initiatives, and adaptive regulatory frameworks. This study provides a comprehensive model for understanding and promoting sustainable water consumption in water-stressed regions worldwide.

Virtual reality is only mildly effective in improving forest conservation behaviors

Virtual Reality (VR) enables immersive experiences that can enhance awareness about environmental problems. We measure the effectiveness of VR versus 2D in an environmental campaign using a field experiment in Brazil. 617 passers-by at a mall were randomly assigned to watch a video clip about the Amazon Forest through VR or a traditional 2D device, with some being randomly interviewed before watching the movie (control group). We find that both the 2D and VR interventions increase individuals’ propensity to (i) contribute to an Amazonian humanitarian campaign, (ii) share contact information, (iii) interact with a conservation campaign, and (iv) state pro-conservation opinions. We find no additional impact of VR compared to 2D, but VR participants were more likely to engage with pro-conservation content online 3 months later. Our findings provide cautionary evidence about the additional potential of using immersive technologies, like VR, to improve conservation behaviors compared to 2D methods.

Influence of messaging and party affiliation on energy conservation behavior: An evaluation from the US

Influence of messaging and party affiliation on energy conservation behavior: An evaluation from the <scp>US</scp>

Small actions to promote conservation and sustainability

AbstractIn the context of recent anthropogenic climate change and the alarming loss of biodiversity, urgent action is required to safeguard our life‐sustaining ecosystems and implement effective sustainable conservation behavior change strategies. To attend to this concern, the present study explores the efficacy of the evidence‐based Tiny Habits® method in fostering behavior change for sustainability. To this end, a case–control pilot project was conducted with a small cohort of adults randomly divided into two groups: cases and controls. Both groups engaged in a 5‐day online program, selecting and practicing three Tiny Habits recipes daily. The conservation Tiny Habits group focused on sustainable actions, while the control group engaged in non‐conservation activities such as relaxation. The results revealed that practicing the Tiny Habits method resulted in an immediate and sustained increase in conservation actions, with lasting changes (up to 1 month) in the participants' behavior. The mean scores for the intervention group at baseline significantly differed from those immediately and at 1 month after the intervention (p = .0092 and p = .0033). These findings suggest that the Tiny Habits method can be a viable opportunity to cultivate sustainable habits in the long term.

The Role of Water Ethics in the Development of Water Conservation Behaviors

The Role of Water Ethics in the Development of Water Conservation Behaviors

Determining the Applicability and Use of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory in the Context of Water Conservation

Urgent action is needed to educate the public and encourage water conservation behaviors amidst the global threat of water scarcity impacting billions by 2050. Crafting tailored educational programs about water conservation is crucial for incentivizing behavior change and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Intrinsic motivation, which is shaped by personal interests and values, plays a fundamental role in understanding individual behavior in various contexts, and therefore may aid in our understanding of water conservation behaviors. Despite the widespread application of the intrinsic motivation inventory (IMI) to measure intrinsic motivation, its adaptation and utilization in water conservation education remains largely unexplored, prompting this study to establish a relevant scale for intrinsic motivation in the context of water conservation education. Data were collected from 907 respondents in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama and subsequently analyzed using an exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to establish and confirm factor structures related to intrinsic motivation, perceived competence, perceived choice, and relatedness in water conservation. The study findings established the Water Conservation IMI as a reliable tool for measuring intrinsic motivation in water conservation education. Further validation of measures for extrinsic motivation in environmental literature are needed to enhance comprehensive education strategies for sustainability.

Pacing strategies of 10 km elite open water swimmers with enhanced temporal resolution: World Swimming Championships Budapest 2022

ABSTRACT The pacing and tactical race strategies of open water (OW) swimmers have been recognized as significant performance determinants in these events, despite the limited resolution of available race data due to the aquatic environment constraints. The main objective of the study was to re-examine the pacing strategies and race tactics of elite OW swimmers from new enhanced temporal resolution data during the 2022 World Championships (WCH). Data were collected from 58 males and 58 females participants classified into 5 performance groups (G1-G5) depending on their finishing positions. Average velocity, stroke rate, and partial positions were obtained for each swimmer in 17 timing points over the 10 km race (on average 550 m or 5.5% of the race distance). The pacing strategies of successful swimmers, especially men, showed a less conservative behaviour than previous WCH with leading race positions (at least top-6) from the race early stages and a lower race density (≈2%) upon arrival. The enhanced temporal resolution race data showed greater pacing variations as well as end race spurts over a shorter distance than previously reported for successful competitors. These results describe a partly new paradigm in OW race strategies compared to previous race data with low temporal resolution.

Traversing the Jevons Paradox: The dual role of residential photovoltaic systems in electricity conservation and increased consumption in an emerging economy

In response to escalating global climate change, governments and international organizations were engaged in identifying effective strategies to mitigate carbon emissions. Residential photovoltaic systems emerged as a prominent, clean energy solution, drawing attention for their carbon-neutral electricity generation. Despite this, concerns persisted over whether technological advancements and policy incentives could sustain efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions, particularly in light of the Jevons Paradox, which posits that technological progress might increase energy consumption and counteract emission reductions. This study, grounded in self-identity theory, examined the influence of residential PV installation on household electricity conservation behavior and assessed the paradox's relevance in this context. Through a survey across three representative Chinese provinces, collecting 996 responses, the research utilized Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the data. Findings revealed that PV installation and usage among residents bolstered self-consistency, social identity, and identity affirmation, indirectly encouraging electricity conservation. Economic incentives and environmental campaigns were both shown to increase residential PV adoption and subsequent electricity-saving actions. However, economic incentives were found to be more effective, suggesting that economic benefits primarily influenced residents' energy consumption behaviors. Interestingly, a lower inclination for electricity conservation among higher-income residents hinted at the Jevons paradox (or a rebound effect). The study's findings underscore the importance of crafting energy and environmental policies that balance economic incentives with long-term environmental awareness strategies. It also suggests that reinforcing residents' identities as environmental advocates could enhance engagement in green energy practices, offering valuable insights for China and other nations striving to promote residential PV systems and meet emission reduction goals.

Conservation behaviors of local communities towards mangrove forests in Iran

Mangrove forests are a sensitive and fragile ecosystem at risk of extinction and destruction due to excessive exploitation in recent years. Moreover, insufficient studies, programs, and practical policies to safeguard these ecosystems have exacerbated their degradation. In this context, the present research was conducted to find the factors that determine the willingness of Iranian rural households towards mangrove forest conservation. The extended protection motivation theory (PMT) by adding the variables of moral norms (MN) and knowledge was used as the study's theoretical framework. This research was conducted using the questionnaire survey method and with the help of structural equations (SEM). The research's statistical population comprised all rural communities within Minab city in southern Iran. The findings of the research showed that the initial PMT explains 0.54 % of the variance of behavioral intention of rural households in applying forest conservation behaviors. The primary constructs of the PMT encompass perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, self-efficacy, response efficacy, and response costs, each of which positively influences the behavioral intention of rural households. Notably, the incorporation of knowledge and MN variables enhances the model's explanatory power regarding the BI of rural households to forest conservation by 21.8 %. In the current research, knowledge was identified as the most important factor, so policymakers can promote safe behavior in the natural environment by emphasizing it and providing the basis for sustainable forest development.

Discover the determining factors of the use of mangrove forests conservation behaviors

Mangrove forests are one of the most important habitats in the world and one of the most beautiful manifestations of nature. They are also among the oldest living creatures on the planet. Mangrove forests can sequester huge amounts of greenhouse gases, protect lives from floods and purify water, but in recent years they have been threatened with extinction and destruction. Studies show that in some countries, including Iran, more than 40% of mangrove forests have disappeared. This is why it is so important to protect the remaining mangroves. In this regard, the main objective of this research was to identify the determining factors for the use of mangrove forest conservation measures in Iran. This study used the theory of values, beliefs and norms (VBN) as the theoretical framework. The study used a survey questionnaire and structural equation modeling (SEM). It focused on all rural households in Minab city (southern Iran). The results showed that VBN can explain 69.4% of the variance in mangrove forest protection behavior. The results of SEM showed that the variables were egoistic value (EV), altruistic value (AV), biospheric value (BV), ecological paradigm (NEP), awareness of consequences (AC), attribution of responsibility (AR) and personal norms (PN) have a significant impact on the adoption of mangrove forest conservation behaviors. From a practical perspective, this study provides a logical rationale for using VBN in the application of forest conservation behaviors. The results of this study can help policy makers encourage rural households to adopt safe and environmentally friendly behaviors.