Resident support for a community-based bird conservation initiative in Indonesia

While community-based conservation programs have been extensively studied, few have examined how residents perceive the costs and benefits of supporting community-based bird conservation (CBBC) initiative. Using an extended Social Exchange Theory (SET), this study examined multiple latent variables influencing support for CBBC in Jatimulyo, Indonesia, focusing on perceived benefits and costs, local involvement, and community attachment. A total of 408 questionnaires were obtained. We found that perceived benefits, local attachment, and local involvement most significantly influenced resident support for CBBC. Perceived benefits and costs significantly mediated the association between local attachment and involvement in and support for CBBC. Despite different mechanisms, effects, and values, our study confirmed the interdependencies among determinant variables that contribute to resident support for the CBBC initiative under SET. This research underscores the need for conservation strategies considering the nuanced roles of attachment, costs, and local engagement to sustain long-term community support.