The role of education in people's willingness to pay for Conservation of oak forests in Kurdistan

Transcription

1 International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences. Vol., 3 (4), , 2012 Available online at ISSN X 2012 The role of education in people's willingness to pay for onservation of oak forests in Kurdistan Hadi fathi, reza movahedi, Negin Dowlati, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, ollege of Agriculture, Bu-Ali- Sina University- Hamedan, Iran. orresponding Author: Hadi Fathi, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Agricultural Education, ollege of Agriculture, Bu-Ali- Sina University, Hamedan, Iran Tel: , hfathi19@yahoo.com Abstract This paper intends to do an analytical review of effects of public awareness on protecting oak Forest in Kurdistan. To do this, we asked 130 people (chosen randomly) from residents of Bane, Marivan, Sarvabad, Sanandaj, Saghez, & Kamyaran (Townships near oak Forest) some related questions regarding this subject. We divided them into two groups; one group was given trainings from Department of Natural Resources in the State of Kurdistan, and the other group had no training. We asked them some questions and we interviewed them. The design of questions and their relativity with subject were approved by experts in this field. To evaluate the reliability of these questions we used ranach s Alpha test, and the result was %83, which, seemed an acceptable ratio. The results showed that both groups agreed to pay to preserve the echo system of this forest. First group was willing to pay Rials a month, and second group was willing to pay Rials a month. onclusion was that with increase in public training and awareness (about the importance of this matter), we can expect them to financially contribute more to preserve and protect this forest. At the end of this paper, we have given some suggestions based on the result of this survey. Key words: Training, Preserving the forest, financial contribution, Baloot Forest, Kurdistan Introduction Investment in education and training plays an important role in economical and social improvement, specially, in less advanced countries. Human resources considered being the wealth of nations. apital investments, and natural resources

2 are passive factors in production while, human resources are active & dynamic factors. Mankind use natural resources (including forest resources), and build social, economical, & political organizations to improve the prosperity of their nations. No country or nation can make their economical or social improvement without public education and training. (Shalchian, 1994) Erosion of soil and destruction of natural resources/ forests, along with scarceness of water and fertilized soil are critical issues in country sides of Iran. The survival of villains and farmers depends on them. Due to increase in population in these areas and scarceness of soil, villains are forced to use forests, hills, and mountains to grow plants. The farming techniques they use is traditional and old, therefore, they may cause erosion and damage to the soil in these areas. (Kalantari & Shabanali fami, 2008). Previous studies One study that was done by (Ghasemin, 2005) shows that there is a relationship between participation of public in protecting the forest and variables such as: job satisfaction, social integrity, trust in government, membership in one of social organizations, type of job, and social classes. ( Shariati et al, 2005) proved that there is a positive relationship between the level of education and participation in protecting the forest. Jalali(2001) showed that there is a meaningful relationship between level of education, promotion, innovatively level, and social activeness with the level of participation & protecting forests. (Ziraki, 2001), showed that there is a meaningful relationship between marriage status, & level of education with public in protecting the forest. (Mohammadi Solaimanin, 2001) also found out that there is a relationship between level of education, social classes, and the type of job with contribution in protecting the forests. Increase in population, level of education, and political issues caused governments to reach out to natural resources and protect them in order to increase national income. The utilization of natural resources by public, sometimes, are done without taking ecological effects into consideration, and resulted in destruction of natural resources. A brief look at statistics shows that around 40 billion hectares, or %75 of Earths total lands, haven been affected by these actions and this endangered %15 of world s population (Ajorloo, 1999).

3 As per Iran s Forestry.( Prairies, & Watershed Organization, 2004) Iran has 164 million hectares land, out of which, 133 million hectares (%80.5 of total land) are in form of revivable natural resources such as forests, prairies, deserts, and dry lands. And only 32 million hectares (19.5%) of its lands forms the rest of lands in Iran. Therefore, preservation and improvement f natural resources can be done with public training and awareness which, also has a positive effects on creation of a stable, and healthy environment. This also conveys skills and knowledge to the land users, and helps to improve his/her vision and management skills. Despite the past that information had a big role in improvement of lands, now skills makes an important role in this task. This means people must be skillful to do changes in future, and this can t be possible but, by training and education1. Most advanced countries owe their success to a goal oriented and organized public training and education. On the other hand, the failure of less advance countries in properly usage of natural resources goes back to their lack of public training and awareness. The fact that prairies has a vital role in survival of humans, specially, in sense of size, and location of finding foods for cattle and sheep, preserving water and soil, finding energy sources, finding construction materials, finding industrial and medical resources, place to raise wild animals, and for clean air and beauty of scenery, it is not wise to not to pay attention to a responsible & careful usage of these sources. For more responsible usage of prairies, and keeping them live and healthy for our future generations, it is important and necessary for users to be educated and aware of effects of their actions. Public training and awareness is the only solution to preserve our natural resources (including our prairies, and forests), and preserve them for future generations. (Azkia 1995, Dad Afarid 1998, Jahan & olleague , Jahan & William3 2000). The importance of this is magnified when we think that 90 million hectares of our lands are made of prairies. North Zagross Forests are one of the most important ecology systems in Iran which, one of the challenges about it is the dependence of local people on these forests for survival. In fact the main reason of destruction of these forests is traditional and old methods of usage of products of these forests. Although the policies and regulations of Forestry & Prairies Organization are to protect and preserve these forests, however, they are not enforced and are not executed. Therefore, due to local needs, same old/ traditional utilization of natural resources are still in force. In fact, due to poverty,

4 local people are partially dependent on the forest sources. (Oyono5, 2005). This is true while, increase of population in recent years in one hand and scarceness of natural resources in another hand, created lots of problem for developing countries: destruction of natural resources, poverty, famine, hunger, flood, and drought have put millions of life in danger ( Amrollahi Sharifabadi & Piri Ardekani, 2006, Noori Kamri & olleague, 2009). Therefore, different attitudes & solutions are offered in recent decades ( Amani & hizari, 2007, Mashan6,1998). Level of education, is one of the indicators of public participation/contribution in preserving forestry projects ( Kandran & hakachri7, 2004). Social involvement & attitudes towards participation/contribution is the most important influencing factor in local peoples participation in projects (Ali & Kashem 8, 1996), variables of age, level of education, believing in global village, and promotions are also important factors influencing their participations/contributions. (Maan ). Research Materials & Methods We used descriptive method for this research (correlation is 10 which, using method of 11), and we have used questionnaires. Statistic groups were randomly chosen from local people near Baloot Forests: Bane, Marivan, Sarv Abad, Sanandaj, Saghghez, and Kamyaran of Kurdistan. 130 questionaires were distributed among our two groups. One group participated in our training courses, delivered by Organization of Natural Resource of Kurdistan, and the other group did not take any training. Total numbers of individuals in both groups were 800. We interviewed them and we asked them to fill out some questionnaires. The accuracy of our indicators and questions were approved by experts in this field. For evaluating our method of research, we had given questionnaires to some University of Kurdistan, Faculty of Forestry. They approved the accuracy of them using ranach s alpha of 83 which, was an acceptable ratio.

5 Age Above 50 Total Areas Qty % Qty % Qty % Qty % Baneh Marivan Sarv-Abd Saghez Sanandaj Kamyarn Total ! " # Table 2-Education level of groups Illiteracy Read & Write elementary Guiding Diploma & Higher Qty % Qty % Qty % Qty % Qty % Baneh Marivan Sarv-Abd Saghez Sanandaj Kamyarn $ % $

6 No hildren QTY % QTY % QTY % QTY % QTY % QTY % Baneh Marivan Sarv-Abd Saghez Sanandaj Kamyarn Perusals limits & ' ( ) Expense Pay 10, ,000 Above 3000 Qty % Qty % Qty % Baneh Marivan Sarv-Abd Saghez Sanandaj Kamyarn Perusals limits * '

7 ""+ ""+,!"# - " 9" 9 // $./ /". 9 %$# *0,*# *0,6# *0,)2 )45 *0,: *0,7#+1+ 2 #45 7;02:# 45 *0,< 9 0 ) ) # 0=02< 5 &! '# $' 9 "/.../..9 / () *0,7# *0,: #2 45 Multi-purpose projects in forest ( Growing fishery & honey bees.etc) Project: Protect & Maintaining of Forest (Forestry, Weeding etc.) Project: Building Forest Resort Project: ut & convert forest trees (traditional, mechanized,

8 / grading.etc.) *0, ) 2 )45 '; 7 = # 3 = * +,-./ 0 1' 36= /" " ')) ) > /9/ " ' >./ "? >.. 8# > 9 ' 0 3@ >0 A >B ) A 8 A

9 2!%3 '! ' -/ ;"" " 9 " /9 + = "9 D)1 / = ) 1 6!%3 ' -+ -/ "" "" "" ""/. "9 ;"" " "" " ""....." 9 / 9" 5 ' * $ 7 2$? %5 ( % 7 E. >*;A

10 7! 62F $ %= ' F 62F 5 :; $) 6 D $) <+(/ 2(5? ; ' ; - =>? 3 1= 2

11 )05 316< % 0 G1&+ 7E 7 ( 7 F ) % 25,9";9 E ) 7 2""5 6 * & 6,; 2"" *+(&%H ( F I1+ H6 " 8) ) * & E B 1+ 3 <2./5 JE K1% 9 B+J<ED25;" <%0E+33%%#2% 52./"5E# 76) **2 ;.5E13$ <:H25 # 0,**2;5 6 7F 6):2""51 J2;5, ;. H 2../5% = F* E * ), H H%12. 5A (EA6%H&L) % J # 0,**2./;"5 B;&0 8 2?52""5+,B 6 J 7 2""5 6 F, 1 7E6E8( J H F* 3 &? # + E 2""5 $ 8 8( E ;/

12 J H # 3 * 25B 8 )( E; F B,( * )) E E M % H 7) 72""51,(* 7E2""9518 ;, EJ%9 25, ;/ 7 E $ 2..5 J K*9., ;/ K 2""95 K "" 5E32, F8 5 J E& D, ;9 K*+""9*; 8, 6' 6 25,; *8)72""5*,6 * M? 82""5 B1J&J + 2H BG :, H 7 68, 6 % E * E2..5N? N * * E E B % 2 *5EE6? % E 7 +? E D 2""95 1 * & 3 26 E F M&, ;9 E% F;* B // + * 9;. D 0 % & 2""5 +, B 6 8)7+2""51*0 26 E, D 5 7E : + *1?(