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ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to ascertain the psychological factors influencing the environmental behaviours of forest guards in Nigeria Lowland Forest Ecoregion. Four research questions and one hypothesis were raised and tested respectively. The research design adopted for the study was the descriptive survey research design. A validated multiple choice structured questionnaires were used for data collection. A total of two hundred and thirty six (236) forest guards were sampled from the Nigeria Lowland Forest Ecoregion. Data obtained were analysed using IBM SPSS version 21.
Analysis of data revealed among others that the forest guards’ level of knowledge toward the forest is relatively low. While for their environmental attitude, they agreed that they walk the entire beat to protect the forest, they think that caring for the forest is important, they feel good about themselves when they stop illegal forest activities in forest reserves and amongst others. The result also revealed that with a theoretical mean set at 14.5, it was observed that 55.1 percent of the respondents had pro-environmental behaviour (environmental friendly) towards the forest. In the hierarchical multiple regression, the researcher observed in the model in stage five that the psychological factors significantly predicted 64% of the forest guards’ environmental behaviours.
With reference to the result of the study, it was recommended that seminars and symposiums should be organized for all forest guards with the objectives fewer intrusive negative thoughts in managing the forest and its resources. Furthermore, there should be constant workshops and training on the job for the forest guards organized by the stakeholders in the forestry department in collaboration with environmental educators in order to make them adequately informed with up-to-date knowledge, attitude, skills and values needed in protecting the forest and its vast resources.
