Students’ Willingness to Plant Trees and Pay for Their Maintenance on Campuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Arsene Mushagalusa Balasha (), Benjamin Murhula Balasha, Lebon Hwali Masheka, Dominique Aganze Mulume, Sage Weremubi Mwisha, Vianney Mulema Ngabo, Alexander-Armand Amatcho, Aloise Bitagirwa Ndele, Rodrigue Lugendo Adrien, Mulunda Selenge Bienvenu, Kapoya Bahati, Kibazi Patrick, Laurent Kabala Kazadi, John Tshomba Kalumbu, Jan Bogaert and Yannick Useni Sikuzani ()
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Arsene Mushagalusa Balasha: Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 1825, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Benjamin Murhula Balasha: Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 1825, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lebon Hwali Masheka: Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Kaziba, Walungu 1234, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dominique Aganze Mulume: Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu 3323, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sage Weremubi Mwisha: Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu 3323, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Vianney Mulema Ngabo: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Bukavu P.O. Box 570, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Alexander-Armand Amatcho: Institut Supérieur Pédagogique d’Isangi, Kisangani 7948, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Aloise Bitagirwa Ndele: Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Bukavu, Bukavu P.O. Box 854, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Rodrigue Lugendo Adrien: Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Bukavu, Bukavu P.O. Box 854, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mulunda Selenge Bienvenu: Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Kalemie, Kalemie P.O. Box 570, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kapoya Bahati: Faculty of Economics and Management, Université Libre de Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 570, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kibazi Patrick: Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 1825, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Laurent Kabala Kazadi: Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 1825, Democratic Republic of the Congo
John Tshomba Kalumbu: Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 1825, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jan Bogaert: Biodiversity and Landscape Unit, Gembloux Agro-BioTech, University of Liège, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
Yannick Useni Sikuzani: Ecology, Ecological Restoration and Landscape Unit, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 1825, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: There is a growing interest in greening schools, campuses, and workplaces due to the perceived ecosystem services provided by trees. However, students’ willingness to participate in and financially support the greening process is less examined. Using a questionnaire survey based on the contingent valuation method (CVM) and Likert scale, 1278 students from 13 universities were interviewed on their willingness to participate in tree planting and pay for their maintenance to promote green and clean campuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Most of the students interviewed were male (61%) and enrolled as undergraduates (60%). While 65% of the respondents agreed with the idea of planting trees, this agreement was significantly associated with students’ awareness of climate change, the university attended, and the sources of information on the roles of trees in the community. The binary logit results showed that university courses (environment-related) and television broadcasts significantly affected students’ willingness to participate in tree planting. Overall, students (70%) agreed to pay for tree maintenance, and their willingness to pay (WTP) was estimated mainly at less than USD 5 per year. The price to pay was a significant factor in determining students’ willingness to pay for tree maintenance. Findings suggest that students’ willingness to support tree planting and maintenance is a crucial factor for academic authorities and planners to consider in order to successfully implement green infrastructures to improve the campus environment and make educational and work spaces sustainably attractive.

Keywords: university students; environmental challenges; tree planting; ecosystem services; willingness to pay (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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