Local Participation in Woodland Management in the Southern Riyadh Area: Implications for Agricultural Extension

Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the extent and forms of local participation in natural woodland management in the southern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, area and to identify the best methods to encourage local participation. Data were collected by using a well‐structured questionnaire. A simple random sample of 290 households from southern Riyadh, comprising three governorates—Alhareeg, Alsolalil, and Huwdut Banitamim—was drawn from the total population of study area. Descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, means, and standard deviation) and chi‐square test were employed to analyze the data. The study revealed that only 29.3 percent of the respondents were involved in the protection and management of nearby forests. The study found significant correlations among the local population's educational levels, occupation, marital status, and age with their participation in the nearby woodland. The study recommends implementation of forestry extension programs to enhance local knowledge about the value of conserving woodland, the development of woodland management system, and the encouragement of the local participation in woodland management by providing them with opportunities to have regulated access to the woodland, participate in decision making, provide financial incentives, and wield authority to protect woodland.