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Explora: Environment

and Resource

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Influence of coronavirus disease 2019 on

attitudes toward forest biodiversity and nature
conservation

2†
1
1
Hui Nee Au Yong 1† , Chuan Chew Foo , Irfan Rashdi , Maryam Kalhoro * ,
1
Chee Yin Yip , and Thian Hee Yiew 1
1 Department of Economics, Faculty of Business and Finance, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman,
Kampar, Perak, Malaysia
2 Institute of Management and Commerce, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

The goal of this study is to better understand public perceptions of biodiversity
loss, with a focus on the connections between deforestation and the eventual
extinction of plants, animals, and birds. In Malaysia, a questionnaire study
covering five variables – deforestation, the extinction of mammals, birds, and
plants – as well as the moderating effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
on public attitudes toward biodiversity loss – was conducted. Using online
survey methods, 505 valid responses in total were acquired, and SMART-PLS was
† These authors contributed equally used for data analysis. Deforestation (the independent variable) is significantly
to this work. and positively correlated with the extinction of birds, mammals, and plants,
*Corresponding author: respectively. The study also demonstrates how COVID-19 moderates animal
Maryam Kalhoro extinction and its impact on public perceptions of biodiversity protection.
(maryamkalhoro@1utar.my)
However, statistical study shows that popular perceptions of biodiversity
Citation: Yong HNA, Foo CC, protection are not significantly impacted by the loss of birds or plants. This study
Rashdi I, Kalhoro M, Yip CY,
Yiew TH. Influence of coronavirus adds to the body of knowledge on the importance of public attitudes in reducing
disease 2019 on attitudes toward environmental degradation by providing a thorough analysis of popular attitudes
forest biodiversity and nature toward biodiversity protection. The research has important ramifications for
conservation. Explora Environ
Resour. 2024;1(1):3615. governments and organizations working to promote environmentally friendly
doi: 10.36922/eer.3615 behaviors, improve ecosystem sustainability, and encourage environmentally
Received: May 9, 2024 friendly organizations.
Accepted: August 1, 2024
Keywords: Biodiversity conservation attitude; Animal extinction; Birds extinction; Plant
Published Online: September 24,
2024 extinction; Deforestation; Coronavirus disease 2019 effect
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution, 1. Introduction
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is The disruption of biodiversity reportedly results in the disturbance of natural habitats
properly cited. and underlying dangers to human health, from a historical perspective. More recently, it
Publisher’s Note: AccScience has been seen that the emergence and then mutation of the pandemic changed the global
Publishing remains neutral with fabric. Not only it affects how humans change their lifestyle, but it also has economic
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional implications. For instance, humans’ unrelenting consumption of resources such as
affiliations. timber, oil, and minerals is destroying natural habitats worldwide. Some businesses are

Volume 1 Issue 1 (2024) 1 doi: 10.36922/eer.3615