| Ecological risk is a condition in which the normal functions of a population, ecosystem or an entire landscape are threatened by external forces or stress factors which presently or in the future may diminish the health, productivity, genetic structure, economic value, or the aesthetic quality of the ecosystem. An increasing amount of literature provides statistics that describe how we humans have created an ecological crisis through our actions toward nature. The loss of biodiversity and other large-scale ecological risks that face the world today are the products of hundreds of years of human development and social change. Ecological risk is socially constructed, and risk analysis needs to address not only physical environmental process but also social, economic, cultural and political views to provide more insights for environmental management.The state of the environment certainly plays an important role in Zambians'lives. This thesis brings the analysis into public sphere. The present study investigated public perception of ecological risks and public participation in ecological risk management in Zambia. This study was designed to answer questions regarding public perception of ecological risks and their participation in environmental risk analysis and decision making.A structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to test the relationships among ecological risk perception, ecological susceptibility, ecological barriers, ecological risk awareness, ecological self-efficacy and preferences in risk management. The model measured the direct mediating effects of ecological awareness and ecological attitude on ecological self-efficacy and behavior using maximum likelihood procedures. Further, a mathematical model was run to produce the most parsimonious or salient set of the determinants which would best predict environmental citizenship. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a sample (N= 663) of Zambian public, University and College students.The results showed that respondents in the study area demonstrated an awareness of the degradation of the environment. Perception of the severity of environmental degradation had a positive influence on both awareness of (β= 0.56; t= 6.42; p<.001), and attitude toward environmental degradation (β= 0.26; t = 4.61; p<.001). Perception of the benefits of an improved environment seems to play a significant role in influencing respondents' attitude toward environmental degradation (β= 0.29; t= 3.51; p<.001). Respondents who perceived lower level of external barriers are more likely to hold positive attitudes towards the environment (β=-0.48; t=-.1.39;p<.001). Further analytical result suggests that the respondents who were younger students in the graduate level with no experience in Environmental education were more likely to perceive higher levels of barriers for acting environmentally. It follows that respondents who perceived lower level of external barriers, had obtained environmental education experiences, and had completed the environment-related courses were more likely to hold positive attitudes for the environment. Women are in general, more concerned about environmental issues than are men, and have a stronger belief that environmental problems would have important consequences for the well-being of humankind. The females were more concerned about ecological risks, and they perceived the environmental issues to be more risky to health, to the general environment and to economic development in Zambia than males. Further, respondents who found environmental protection very important, were more informed about environmental issues (β= 0.39;t= 3.14; p<.001), have personal experiences of environmental problems (β= 0.57;t= 8.32; p<.001) and were more likely to make environmental friendly choices (β= 0.64; t=5.21;p<.001). Making wise choices about the use of natural resources and the distribution of environmental benefits and costs is central to maximizing the contribution that the nation's resource endowment makes to social and economic development. Ecologicall risks such as unclean water, drought, and exposure to in-door pollution, insect-borne diseases, and pesticides account for almost about a quarter of the nation's burden of disease, and an even greater proportion of the health burden of the poor.This study argues for the institutionalization of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) as an important additional option for promoting environmentally sustainable land use. This research analysis of public participation in environmental issues offers the Zambian decision makers information on how the public perceives ecological issues, how they support environmental policies, and what they want to do when they have a chance to participate in a decision making process. The research may provide environmental communicators, managers and educators with information about how to help the Zambian public better understand the threats from human activities to ecosystems, human life, and social economic development, and to encourage the public to act toward ecological risk reduction and management. Based on public preferences in ecological risk management, the decision makers would know how to gain support from the public on environmental policies so that the decisions could be implemented successfully and effectively.
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