Abstract:

Public perception of the forest is fundamental in determining how forests will be managed, protected, or improved. Thus, this paper examines the forest-people relations and conservation awareness of people living in or adjacent to the forest that dependent on forest resources in 6 villages within the boundaries of three different Forest Sub-district Directorates of the Kastamonu Regional Directorates of Forestry. Statistical analysis as independent t-test mean scores by gender awareness, ANOVA level of awareness by ages, ANOVA level of awareness based on education levels were used for data analysis. It is revealed with an independent-samples t-test that there is a significant difference in the scores for effect tree cutting on deforestation; perception of the forest; the importance of forest resources in terms of income generation; and awareness of rights for male and female conditions. We used One Way ANOVA for determining if a significant difference in means scores on the dependent variable exist across two or more groups. Accordingly, there is a significant effect of age groups on at the p<0.05 level for the awareness of rights, soil erosion on deforestation, and positive contribution of laws to forest protection. Also, there is a significant effect of education level groups on at the p<0.05 level for the effect of logging on deforestation and effect of soil erosion on deforestation.

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