A Comparative Study of Hungarian and Indian University Students’ Attitudes Toward Forestry

Abstract

Attitudes toward using wood as a raw material vary greatly, from anti-logging and anti-felling propaganda to the propagation of wood use. This study examines attitudes toward wood, trees, and sustainable forest management in two distinct cultures – India and Hungary. Our questionnaire survey findings indicate that sustainable forest management is considered more important in India than in Hungary and that environmental education is more widespread in India (40 %) than in Hungary (19 %). Over 30 % of people in both countries do not plan to keep wood-related traditions or customs. Indian students lean more toward discontinuing the wide use of wood than Hungarian students do. However, anti-logging/anti-felling propaganda is more widespread in Hungary (85 %) than in India (62 %). Passing wooden tools to the next generation shows a decreasing trend, which is significant from a carbon sequestration, carbon storage perspective, and climate protection. The study findings suggest that keeping wood-related traditions and customs should be strengthened in both countries through environmental education.