Examining the Relationship Between Ecological Commitment, Environmental Knowledge, and Farmers’ Nature-Friendly Behavior: Investigating the Moderating Influence of Environmental Legislation

Abstract

The increasing concern regarding the degradation of the environment caused by unsustainable agricultural practices necessitates a more comprehensive examination of farmers’ nature-friendly behavior and the influence of environmental legislation on their actions. This study employs face-to-face surveys conducted with a sample of 476 Chinese farmers to investigate the complex relationship between ecological commitment (ECO), environmental knowledge (EKN), the new ecological paradigm (NEP), and ecological behavior (EBH). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used as the analytical approach. The findings indicate that ECO (β = .421, p < .01), EKN (β = .301, p < .01), and NEP (β = .271, p < .01) have statistically significant positive effects on EBH. This research also establishes the moderating role of legal cognition, highlighting the influence of farmers’ understanding of environmental legislation on the connection between their commitment, knowledge, and ecological behavior. The significance of environmental legislation is underscored as a crucial mechanism for regulating and encouraging nature-friendly behavior at farms. This study recommends the implementation of increased awareness strategies and emphasizes the need for local administrations to promote and motivate environmentally sustainable behaviors by improving the legal cognition of farmers as a means to address the issue of environmental degradation due to unsustainable farming behavior.