ABSTRACT

People value nature based on their relationship to it and the utility they derive from it. This paper explores the utilization of forest ecosystem services and the factors that influence an individual’s relational values toward two forest-protected areas in northern Jordan: Ajloun and Yarmouk Forest-Protected Area. A random sample of 200 members from local communities was interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Later, we employed chi-square and ordinary logistic regression methods to determine factors associated with a set of relational values. The results revealed that respondents’ most valued cultural services and the provisioning of some ecosystem services. Recreation and collection of wild plants were the most frequently mentioned ecosystem services used in both protected areas. Socio-economic factors such as gender, age, income, and period of residency – influenced respondents’ relational values through monetary benefits, ecological resilience, social cohesion, and physical and health benefits. In conclusion, it is important to raise the local community’s awareness of forest ecosystems, and that institutional actions should recognize forests’ cultural, religious, identity, and existence values to help win continuous support from local communities for forest-protected areas.

摘要

人们根据与自然的关系以及从中获得的效用来评估自然。本文探讨了森林生态系统服务的利用以及影响个人对约旦北部两个森林保护区的关系价值的因素：Ajloun 和 Yarmouk 森林保护区。使用结构化问卷调查了来自当地社区的 200 名成员的随机样本。后来，我们采用卡方和普通逻辑回归方法来确定与一组关系值相关的因素。结果显示，受访者最看重的文化服务和提供的一些生态系统服务。野生植物的娱乐和收集是两个保护区最常提到的生态系统服务。社会经济因素，如性别、年龄、收入、和居住时间——通过金钱收益、生态恢复力、社会凝聚力以及身体和健康收益影响受访者的关系价值观。总之，重要的是要提高当地社区对森林生态系统的认识，机构行动应该承认森林的文化、宗教、身份和存在价值，以帮助赢得当地社区对森林保护区的持续支持。