Fifteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

Tropical forests host diverse flora and fauna that are constantly threatened by natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Citizen science, or public participation in scientific research in collaboration with scientists, is useful in engaging local communities in efforts to conserve biodiversity—either in collecting and monitoring data, analyzing data, reporting findings, or a combination of these tasks. Using preliminary survey data collected among adult members of households in the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MFR) in the Philippines, this paper examines forest dwellers’ views of the human–nature relationship and how these views influence intention to participate in citizen science. The survey questions were based on the four relationship categories in the Human and Nature scale: mastery over nature, stewardship of nature, partnership with nature, and participation in nature. Only participation in nature is correlated with behavioral intention, although weak, with forest dwellers more likely to participate in citizen science if they feel an intense connection with nature. The following points also emerged: (a) community leaders’ approval of any research-related activity in their respective areas influences residents’ willingness to participate; (b) communities are selective of research projects they participate in due to past experiences; and (c) proponents of an activity also shape residents’ inclination to be involved. Determining human–nature perspectives and intention to participate can inform sustainability planning and extension in the MFR, particularly in designing and implementing programs that potentially increase community interest and engagement in biodiversity conservation, and framing messages that correspond to local values, priorities, and preferences.