Investigation of Environmental Attitudes on the Protection of Asiatic Cheetah in Iran
Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Agricultural Economics, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University
2 Faculty Member , Collage of Environment
3 University of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Abstract
Today, the world is faced with an environmental emergency, and despite the fact that environmental concerns have increased in the last few decades, no environmental actions have been taken. Many believe that the solution to environmental crises should be sought in changing human behavior, attitude and way of life. Wildlife attitudes (whether positive or negative towards carnivores) affect the promotion of coexistence between humans and carnivores as well as conservation efforts. Therefore, this study examines the environmental attitude of the community in protecting the Asiatic Cheetah. The number of required questionnaires was determined using Cochran's formula and the required information and data were collected by completing 564 questionnaires from households in 31 provinces of the country in the winter of 2021. The results were analyzed using structural equations. The obtained results showed that ecological and economic variables have an effect on the environmental attitude of people to protect the Asiatic Cheetah. The non-significance and influence of the educational variable on people's environmental attitude towards the protection of the Asiatic Cheetah showed that the information of the people in the society about the proposed propositions was insufficient. Therefore, raising the level of awareness among people in the society, especially local communities in the vicinity of Asiatic Cheetah habitats, is necessary and very important. It can be useful to use the capacities and capabilities of media in order to promote environmental culture in order to protect the habitats of Cheetahs. Also, the characteristics of the animal habitat and the habitat of the Asiatic Cheetah species should be compiled in the textbooks of all provinces due to the importance and place of the Asian cheetah's heritage and existential value.
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