Title: Peer Pressure, Self-Efficacy, Outcome Expectancy, and Moral Values Predict Intentions for Active Management of Ecosystems in Oklahoma
Authors: Bijesh Mishra, Rodney Will, Omkar Joshi
Abstract
The forest-grassland ecotone of the south-central USA is transiting towards close canopy forest due to the exclusion of fire. Active management can restore the ecosystem and its ecosystem services. Active management, however, comes with the cost of management and acceptance of management tools. Deer hunting is a vital source of revenue generation to offset the landowner’s management cost in the region. This paper addresses the question of how landowners’ beliefs, attitudes, and norms about sustainable management of forest, rangeland, and deer habitat impact their intentions for the active management of the ecosystem for deer hunting. We found that subjective norms and perceived behavior controls affected deer hunting intention in presence of moral norms. Attitudes are affected significantly but negatively correlated with intentions. The study suggests that landowners have positive social pressure and are interested in active management but associated financial burden and risk could be shaping negative attitudes.
Program Detail: https://www.southernruralsociology.org/annual-meeting
