socio-economic factors and mountaineers’ conservation willingness: a riparian peri-urban forest study

Introduction: riparian peri-urban forests hold significant values in terms of providing recreational spaces, conserving water and soil resources, and supporting biodiversity. sustainable management of these resources needs to engage urban communities in the management of these natural resources, comprehensively. this study aims to determine most important functions of riparian peri-urban forests and examine the factors influencing mountaineers’ willingness to participate in forest conservation efforts with a specific focus on riparian forests close to hiking trails and mountainous areas. additionally, the study seeks to explore the barriers and opportunities for mountaineers’ active involvement in conservation initiatives.material and methods: the sample size of 416 mountaineers in hiking trails in north of tehran were considered as survey samples. study data were gathered using questionnaire. questionnaire consisted of several part to cover forest functions, potential fields and barriers of participation and socio-economic data o individuals. data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.results: recreational values, aesthetic values, water resource conservation, flood mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and soil resource protection were the most important functions of riparian forests perceived by mountaineers. the barriers to mountaineers’ participation in riparian forest conservation programs were also identified, including the lack of participatory management plans, uncertainty about the impact of their participation, technical barriers, lack of time, and financial constraints. regarding fields of participatio, mountaineers show a strong preference for tree planting programs and waste cleaning activities. the study findings indicate that household size, frequency of mountain climbing per year, number years of mountaineering experience, and occupation positively impact individuals’ willingness to participate in riparian peri-urban forest management. additionally, gender, marital status, participation in relevant training courses on urban forests, and experience of participation in social programs create significant differences in individuals’ willingness to participate.conclusion: the findings underscore the importance of comprehensive community involvement and the need to address the growing demand for recreational spaces within urban environments. by identifying barriers and opportunities for mountaineers’ participation, this study provides insights that can inform the development of effective participatory management approaches.

socio-economic factors and mountaineers’ conservation willingness: a riparian peri-urban forest study

introduction: riparian peri-urban forests hold significant values in terms of providing recreational spaces, conserving water and soil resources, and supporting biodiversity. sustainable management of these resources needs to engage urban communities in the management of these natural resources, comprehensively. this study aims to determine most important functions of riparian peri-urban forests and examine the factors influencing mountaineers’ willingness to participate in forest conservation efforts with a specific focus on riparian forests close to hiking trails and mountainous areas. additionally, the study seeks to explore the barriers and opportunities for mountaineers’ active involvement in conservation initiatives.material and methods: the sample size of 416 mountaineers in hiking trails in north of tehran were considered as survey samples. study data were gathered using questionnaire. questionnaire consisted of several part to cover forest functions, potential fields and barriers of participation and socio-economic data o individuals. data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.results: recreational values, aesthetic values, water resource conservation, flood mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and soil resource protection were the most important functions of riparian forests perceived by mountaineers. the barriers to mountaineers’ participation in riparian forest conservation programs were also identified, including the lack of participatory management plans, uncertainty about the impact of their participation, technical barriers, lack of time, and financial constraints. regarding fields of participatio, mountaineers show a strong preference for tree planting programs and waste cleaning activities. the study findings indicate that household size, frequency of mountain climbing per year, number years of mountaineering experience, and occupation positively impact individuals’ willingness to participate in riparian peri-urban forest management. additionally, gender, marital status, participation in relevant training courses on urban forests, and experience of participation in social programs create significant differences in individuals’ willingness to participate.conclusion: the findings underscore the importance of comprehensive community involvement and the need to address the growing demand for recreational spaces within urban environments. by identifying barriers and opportunities for mountaineers’ participation, this study provides insights that can inform the development of effective participatory management approaches.