Application of Environmental Attitudes toward Analyzing Farmer's Pro-Environmental Behavior in order to Soil Conservation (The Case of Rice Farmers in the Central Part of Sari Township)

Human due to behaviors and changes towards the environment, can cause its degradation and specially soil. In this regard, to prevent the environmental degradation, human behaviors have to change towards pro-environmental dimensions. Achieve behavioral changes related to the environment, requires an understanding about human environmental attitudes. The purpose of this research was to analyze application of environmental attitudes in regard to investigating rice farmers’ pro-environmental behavior toward soil conservation in the central part of Sari township. This descriptive study conducted by using a survey. Research tool was a questionnaire which its validity and reliability were confirmed by using a panel of university professors and Cronbach's alpha, respectively. Stratified random sampling and Cochran formula were used to collect data from 120 rice farmers as a sample (N=9621). The results showed, 20.8 percent of rice farmers’ pro-environmental behavior was in the poor level, 20.8 percent as moderate, 25 percent as good and 14.2 percent was excellent. Also, findings revealed that those who have Egoistic view had lower levels of Pro-environmental behavior than others with biosphere and altruistic attitudes.