Perception, knowledge and attitude towards environmental issues and management among residents of Al-Suwaiq Wilayat, Sultanate of Oman

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine residents’ perception, knowledge and attitude towards environmental issues and management in the Al-Suwaiq Wilayat (administrative zone) of Al-Batinah North, Sultanate of Oman. For this purpose, a questionnaire was used with questions on issues related to environment and surveyed across 109 households in the Wilayat following a random sampling method in early 2015. The results show that education, health-related infrastructure and unemployment are ranked as most important issues for government attention today and in coming 10 years besides their concern for the environment. Resident’s perceptions on most important environmental issues were concerned about solid-waste pollution, degradation of coastal areas, saltwater intrusion and land degradation. The sources for environmental information, government agencies, local media and schools were regarded as most reliable. Top environmental priorities were suggested to deal with enforcement of regulations, provide effective environmental awareness and education programs. Further, it is suggested that additional studies should be conducted such as ‘State of Environment Reporting’, thereby such reporting, for instance would provide some form of verification of reported behaviour and improved knowledge.

KEYWORDS:

• Environment
• residents
• awareness
• attitudes
• management
• Wilayat
• Oman

Acknowledgements

This study is part of an on-going research project at the Center for Environmental Studies and Research (CESAR), Sultan Qaboos University on coastal ecosystem management in Oman.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Research Council of the Sultanate of Oman (TRC) [agreement no. ORG/SQU/EBR/13/028].