Studying participatory behaviors of local communities in ecotourism-based natural resources conservation: Using the theory of planned behavior in Zagros Mountains, Iran.

Abstract

This study was conducted in the Galehgol traditional property, located in the Zagros Mountains in western Iran. The natural resources in this area have undergone significant degradation over time due to extensive utilization by the local population. The main objective of this paper was to examine the intentions and behaviors of the local host community regarding their participation in the conservation of natural resources, utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). To enhance the predictive power of the theory of planned behavior, this study incorporates the variable of Environmental Concern. Data from a sample of 278 local individuals were collected through questionnaires administered between June 2021 and May 2022. The collected data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling and Smart-Pls software. The questionnaire was specifically developed by the researchers for this study. The findings of the structural equation analysis revealed that in the initial TPB model, the three variables of Attitude, Perceived Behavioral Control, and Subjective Norms were collectively accounted for 54.5% and 61.4% of the variance in intention and behavior, respectively. When the environmental concern variable was added to the model, it enhanced the explanatory power to 66.8% for intention and 60.4% for behavior among the local community. The results indicated that attitude and subjective norms, in both the original and extended models, significantly influence the intentions of local communities towards conserving ecotourism natural resources