Evaluation of environmental knowledge and sustainable behaviour of forest dwellers with reference to forest resource management in the Kashmir Himalayas

Abstract

The study aims to ascertain the levels of environmental knowledge among forest dwellers in the Kashmir Himalayas as it exerts a strong influence on people’s attitude and sustainable behaviour towards sustainable forest resource management. The study is based on primary data, which was analysed with the help of Descriptive Statistics and the Binary Logistic Regression Model (BLRM) in SPSS. The study reveals that environmental knowledge had a Weighted Average Index (WAI) and a Standard Deviation (SD) of 3.05 ± 1.38, indicating low levels of knowledge. The attitude registered a WAI and SD of 3.29 ± 1.33, followed by sustainable behaviour with a WAI and SD of 3.30 ± 1.33, signifying a low to moderate level of attitude and sustainable behaviour, respectively. The study indicates that forest dwellers displayed a positive attitude and desirable behaviour on issues pertaining to their livelihoods. Environmental knowledge pertaining to emerging global environmental issues such as the role of forests in combating global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and ecological imbalance was found to be very low, primarily on account of low levels of education. In addition, the attitude towards wildlife conservation was non-congenial on account of increasing man-animal conflicts in the region. The study reveals that education, age, and gender were key determinants influencing people’s environmental knowledge, attitude, and sustainable behaviour. Therefore, efforts should be made to enhance the environmental knowledge of forest dwellers through education and broad-based awareness programmes to inculcate a positive attitude and sustainable behaviour towards forest resource management in this fragile Himalayan valley.