Assessing Public Attitudes Toward Conservation of Endangered Plant Species in India: A Survey Study
Author(s): Dr. Ajay Kumar Verma
Publication #: 2508018
Date of Publication: 22.08.2025
Country: India
Pages: 1-11
Published In: Volume 11 Issue 4 August-2025
Abstract
This study investigates public attitudes toward the conservation of endangered plant species in India—an area historically underexplored in conservation discourse dominated by faunal protection. Utilizing a structured cross-sectional survey, data were collected from 612 respondents across five ecologically and culturally diverse Indian states (Uttarakhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh) through stratified random sampling. The study aimed to assess levels of awareness, perceived urgency, willingness to participate, and policy preferences regarding plant conservation, while also identifying socio-demographic determinants of these attitudes. Quantitative analysis using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and ANOVA revealed that awareness levels are moderate overall, with education emerging as a key predictor of both awareness and urgency perception. Urban participants displayed higher engagement with digital and monetary forms of support, whereas rural populations favored participatory activities like tree-planting. Key barriers to participation included lack of information, time constraints, and low visibility of conservation campaigns. Respondents showed strong support for policy tools like environmental education, tax incentives, and community seed banks, suggesting a civic readiness to support plant protection if adequately mobilized. The study concludes that a pluralistic, hybrid conservation model—integrating educational reforms, local participation, and institutional support—is vital to make endangered plant conservation inclusive and effective. It also identifies future research needs in longitudinal tracking, behavioral evaluation, and qualitative exploration of socio-cultural drivers. This work contributes empirical evidence for reorienting conservation governance to include public perspectives, particularly in developing-country contexts.
Keywords: endangered plants, public attitudes, conservation India, biodiversity awareness, plant protection, ecological policy.
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