Examining the Sustainability Status of Pol-e Dokhtar Villages According to Environmental Attitudes

Today, the destruction of natural resources is one of the most important environmental issues and a major problem in human life. One of the causes of environment destruction in the world includes humans’ environmental behaviors. The status of the environment during the past few decades demonstrates such a destruction caused by humans with the so-called intention of achieving a better life; however, this has been unfortunately counterproductive and humans themselves are faced with numerous issues. On the other hand, the environment also involves a set of limitations; lack of attention to these constraints during economic development processes leads to environment destruction. Subsequently, rural areas in developing countries have also become subject to limitations and their environmental sustainability are faced with serious risks. Therefore, it is vital to pay special attention to the conservation and sustainability of the environment in rural areas. In this study, the environmental sustainability of the rural areas around Pol-e Dokhtar City is examined.
Following the industrial revolution, humans has entered the age of technology and their relation with environment as well as their perception of environmental resources have been transformed. In this regard, dominant scientific paradigms of each period specify the framework and relationship between humans and the utilization of environment and resources. Environmental attitudes can be classified into two groups: general and specific. In the former, it is believed that individuals have different attitudes toward various components of environment and such attitudes should be considered with respect to the status of the environment in general. In the latter, it is believed that the attitudes of individuals toward a specific subject are more determinant so that these attitudes could be concentrated on specific aspects. According to numerous researchers, if such attitudes are conceptualized correctly, then they can contribute to predicting individual behaviors. For instance, Ghrob (1995) states that environmental behavior is majorly influenced by personal attitudes and the values of individuals. Therefore, it is vital to examine the scientific perspective on how to use resources along with humans’ relation with the environment. The present, descriptive-analytical study was conducted with applied purposes. Theoretical studies were collected using documents. To collect the field data, the questionnaires including quantitative items (Likert scale) were employed. The population of the study included households living in the rural areas of Pol-e Dokhtar City (N=11289). In addition, a sample population of 400 was selected using Cochran’s formula. One sample t-test was used to examine the environmental sustainability factors. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc analysis were also employed to examine the status and differences between the rural areas of each village in terms of environmental sustainability factors. A pattern of the environmental sustainability was also presented in order to offer the model of the study using structural equation modelling (SEM). The examination of environmental sustainability factors using one sample t-test showed that none of the factors are in a sustainable state. According to the findings, water resources (2.82), forests and woods (2.74), and pastures (2.56) are in unsustainable conditions. The only somewhat sustainable factor is the soil (3.03). According to the environmental unsustainability model, with a coefficient of 0.82 the factor for pastures (Y1) involves the highest load factor, and it is the most significant latent factor in this area. Forests and woods (Y3), water resources (Y4) and soil (Y2) occupy subsequent positions with load factors of 0.68, 0.63, and 0.51, respectively. The findings also showed a significant difference between various regions of Pol-e Dokhtar City in terms of environmental unsustainability factors (water resources, soil, woods, and pastures). Meanwhile, despite the unsustainable status of Jayder Village, it is in a better condition compared to other regions, whereas the lowest sustainability levels belong to Western and Eastern Miankooh Villages. The results demonstrate that the majority of examined factors are in unsustainable conditions. In this regard, the highest extent of unsustainability belongs to pastures. There is also a significant difference between rural regions in terms of rural environmental unsustainability factors. The most important recommendation in line with reducing unsustainability is that any program capable of empowering rural residents in all economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions could bring about a healthier, more sustainable environment in rural regions. It is essential to provide the means for a better growth of rural areas using every tool and organizations as well as the rural residents themselves. This suggests that in analyzing and assessing rural areas as sustainable or unsustainable, special attention should be paid to the problems and issues of rural residents. Employing a one-dimensional view toward these subjects similar to the one used in our country until now fails to provide the means for a sustainable development of rural areas.