Factors Influencing Forest Resource Conservation Behavior of the Youth in Northern Uplands, Lao People's Democratic Republic

The government of Laos has made significant efforts to halt deforestation and promote forest conservation in the Northern Uplands of Laos. However, there is no comprehensive assessment of the initiatives and factors that influence youth involvement in forest resource conservation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify sustainable forest management practices and factors affecting youth behaviors related to forest conservation. Methodologically, our study was conducted in three districts, covering 15 villages, with 330 youths who were selected by systematic sampling to participate in structured interviews, statistically using multiple regressions to identify factors influencing sustainable forest management behaviors. The results indicated that conservation knowledge and recognition are associated with demographic and socioeconomic factors, especially education. Factors related to forest conservation recognition included the amount of information available, gender, monthly income, land ownership, and distance from the forest to home. Most households rely on forest products for their livelihoods. It is concluded that higher levels of education provide people with more job opportunities, which improves their job status and quality of life. Community members who received relevant information were more forward-thinking in their forest management behaviors and willing to contribute to related activities. The empirical evidence indicated that providing essential information to young people can help improve sustainable forest management behaviors.