A Measurement of Perceptions of the Forest Ecosystem among Visitors to the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve in Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

The present study aimed to understand visitors’ perceptions of the ecosystem service functions of the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve, as well as their recreational activities. Here, the impact of respondents’ socioeconomic status on visitors’ perceptions was statistically analyzed by t-tests and ANOVA (SPSS software v26). Meanwhile, multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the relationships between factors shaping respondents’ perceptions of the AL-Sunut Forest during recreational activities. A total of 441 visitors were randomly selected and questioned through a questionnaire survey during February and March 2020. The results showed that visitors believed the recreational forest site was important and valuable and were willing to revisit it. Visitors also demonstrated a particular understanding of the ecosystem services provided by the forest ecosystem. There were significant differences in perceptions of ecosystem services among visitors of different backgrounds. The findings indicated that 79% of participants responded positively towards the importance of environmental education compared with any other education. In addition, 90% of respondents believed that habitats and natural resources such as forests must be protected. The results of the recreational activities of visitors showed that they acquired the most benefits when experiencing picturesque scenery and walking. Overall, the present findings can pave the way for decision-makers to develop a unique plan focusing on forests to implement an exhaustive approach to assessing the value of ecosystem services while emphasizing the general public’s welfare. The study’s results can also contribute to the future management of the AL-Sunut Forest.

1. Introduction

Over the past decades, civil society has recognized the importance of ecosystem services for the environment and humans [1,2]. Forest ecosystems are an important resource that has been changed by intensive human activity, representing significant threats to their sustainability [3,4]. Forests in cities are essential for preserving ecological equilibrium while offering environmental benefits to inhabitants. Ecosystem services contribute to improved quality of life and sustained urban development [5,6]. The ecosystem services approach is widely acknowledged as a potential instrument to evaluate the direct and indirect benefits of natural ecosystems, thus improving our awareness of the many goods that nature offers to human society [7,8]. “Ecosystem services” refers to all aspects of ecosystem functioning that allow for human survival and well-being [9]. Many countries have used scientific methods and awareness campaigns to promote ecosystem perceptions and to achieve their ecosystem development goals, focusing on citizens as vital to the ecological system [10,11].

Ecosystem awareness promotes national belonging through understanding the value of national benefits from nature in addition to an interest in ecosystems and civilizational expressions, because a community’s cultural identity reflects its ecosystem [12,13]. Cultural ecosystem services assist society by providing recreation, heritage value, spiritual enrichment, and esthetic enjoyment [14,15]. As human requirements have changed, so have attitudes regarding forest ecosystems, heightened by society’s growing desire to spend recreation time in forests [16]. Communities living around natural ecosystems, such as mangrove forests, include individuals with various features that influence their knowledge [8]. “Attitude” is defined as a firmly held mental posture, whereas “preference” refers to loving one region of land or the environment more than others. The concept of “perception” refers to both sensual reactions (which are usually visual) to a landscape and the way individuals attribute significance and value to it [17].

Ecosystem awareness is an essential pillar for the development and advancement of many sectors because it enhances the perception of society as civilized by creating an ecosystem-educated community that understands the importance of environmental balance [15]. Perceptions are individuals’ subjective interpretations and understandings of the world around them; they investigate human perception and understanding of information, events, objects, and people. Perceptions are formed by personal, cultural, and social factors [18]. Demographic variables, family size, gender, and age have also been observed to influence local people’s reliance on the forest and, hence, their views of ecosystem services [19,20]. Tourist behavior encompasses the actions, choices, and preferences exhibited by individuals or groups while participating in travel and tourist activities [21]. Factors influencing people’s reliance on forests have been widely studied using spatial and social variables. Several studies have found that educated and disadvantaged people value forest ecosystem services highly but in different ways [4,22].

Understanding public attitudes toward ecosystem service preservation has emerged as a research focus [23,24]. In many parts of the world, urban forests are crucial to human well-being [25]. As people engage in recreational activities, they tend to rely heavily on the natural environment and its resources. This increased reliance ultimately leads to a rise in the demand for ecosystem services [26]. However, visitors to forest recreational areas have distinct perspectives on the environment because of their varied environmental interests [27]. Therefore, several studies have proposed that the recreational experience is distinct and emerges from participating in recreational activities [28]. People are drawn to forests that are planted or found in nature as the easiest and most fun places to enjoy recreation [17]. Knowing local people’s views, considering their requirements, and respecting their perspectives should become a management focus for achieving conservation operations and the sustainable use of natural resources [29].

The AL-Sunut Forest Reserve is a protected forest and the only natural outlet for the residents of Khartoum State, Sudan; however, it has been subjected to challenges and abuses through investment and population expansion. On the other hand, the lack of understanding of the dangers of environmental pollution and degradation has motivated increasing environmental problems despite the awareness of the importance of ecosystems. To address this issue, educational, media, and other institutions must make concerted efforts to raise community awareness of the importance of ecosystems and the ecological problems surrounding them.

This study aimed to measure levels of awareness of ecosystems among visitors to the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve and highlight the importance of the forest for visitors. Moreover, it aimed to determine the importance of the forest for visitors and the extent of their knowledge and awareness of the significance of ecosystems, as well as assessing the importance of the forest. Ultimately, the findings may assist in identifying the forest’s importance and clarify the problems faced by the forest, thereby helping forest managers and policymakers to manage and preserve the forest as a world heritage site and raise public awareness of nature. They can also impact social sustainability on the part of environmental protection departments, which should be emphasized to achieve comprehensive sustainable development.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Area

As displayed in Figure 1, the research was carried out in the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve, which is located in Khartoum State, Sudan, in Sub-Saharan Africa [30]. Khartoum was formed in 1820 and became the capital of the country in northern Africa. Its growth revolves at 15°33′06′′N latitude and 32°31′56′′E longitude, and it is about 380 m above sea level on average [31]. The city holds significance in Sudan due to its central and strategic position at the junction of the Blue and White Niles. It is widely regarded as one of the most crucial states in Sudan [31]. Khartoum, Khartoum North, and Om-Durman are the three biggest cities in the state [32]. Khartoum State’s climate is semi-arid, with an average annual rainfall of 150 to 250 mm. The mean temperature fluctuates from 25 °C in December to 45 °C in May. The rainy season aligns with the period when the Nile experiences floods [33]. The AL-Sunut Forest Reserve can be found where the White and Blue Niles meet, between latitudes 15°34′ N–15°35′ N and longitudes 32°30′ E–32°29′ E. This forest spans about 164 hectares and is one of the last remaining urban forests in Sudan [34]. This site is essential for students and academics because it is the natural recreational site in the capital city. It is also an important station for migratory bird species migrating from Eurasia to Africa, making it a useful educational resource [35].

2.2. Visitor Survey and Sampling

To measure the perceptions of the forest ecosystem among visitors to the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve in Khartoum, Sudan, we used the questionnaire approach. In the end, we estimated the awareness of the visitors and the importance of the forest as the only urban forest that represents a distinctive place for recreation and entertainment and attempted to discover visitors’ points of view. The ecosystem services referred to in the questionnaire mostly correspond to a list of place-based social values produced and applied in the management of forests [2,36,37]. Based on the questionnaire, the study provided a better understanding of the relevance of visitors’ ecological knowledge and first-hand forest experiences to their attitudes toward forest ecosystem services. The following are the issues that guided the study:

• How does visitors’ knowledge of the forest ecosystem correlate with their perceptions and attitudes toward the forest ecosystem?
• Does the frequency of direct experiences in forests correlate with visitors’ attitudes toward forest ecosystems?
• Does the frequency of direct experiences and education in forests correlate with visitors’ knowledge of forest ecosystems?
• Do visitors’ gender and grade of education affect their perceptions and knowledge of the ecosystem and attitudes toward the forest ecosystem?

2.3. Questionnaire Design, Sampling, and Data Collection

The questionnaire structure included questions about the socioeconomic characteristics of the visitors. A beta test was carried out on a sample of 30 visitors to assess the relevance of the questions and analyze their responses in completing the questionnaire. As a result, some questions were removed, and others were modified. The questionnaire was divided into two sections: one for the participants’ socioeconomic characteristics and the other for a specified number of questions. The methodology was chosen because it determined the level of awareness and knowledge about the ecosystem (via a three-choice index: (yes, no, do not know)) and gave each indicator a code when entering data (yes = 1, no = 2, do not know = 3). During the period from February to March 2020, we conducted questionnaires with visitors to AL-Sunut Forest Reserve to evaluate their opinions and determine their understanding of forest ecosystems and the significance of the forest to them, including the variety of services it provides. The questionnaire was randomly distributed before the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic, and it took around 10 min to meet with one person. The survey was conducted throughout the week and on weekends. A total of 441 visitors were surveyed for this study (see Appendix A).

2.4. Data Analysis

After the questionnaire was designed and finalized, it was evaluated by the staff members of the Faculty of Forestry at Khartoum University. Considering suggestions made in the evaluation process, the questionnaire was revised, and it was deemed valid. The data collected from the study area were subjected to experimental modification during the statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics were employed to examine the respondent’s socioeconomic characteristics, visitor behavior, their assessments of recreational resources, and visitors’ perceptions of the services provided by the forest ecosystem. To investigate whether visitors from different backgrounds had different perceptions of the functions of forest ecosystem services, this study employed an independent sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) [38]. IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS v26) software was used for the statistical analysis of this study. The frequency and percentage of each variable were calculated. The process involved a thorough analysis of the data using simple techniques commonly employed in this field for socioeconomic survey data to achieve the desired outcome. The primary method involved creating a specific cross-tabulation.

3. Results

3.1. The Demographic and Economic Attributes of Visitors to the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve

The demographic attributes of individuals visiting the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve, such as gender, age, educational level, marital status, occupation, monthly income, and residence area were summarized according to the results shown in

Table 1. The demographic and economic attributes of visitors to the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve (n = 441).

Background Attributes	Sub-Item	Percentage (%)
Gender	Male	52.6
	Female	47.4
Age group	24 or less	66.4
	25–34	27.9
	35–44	3.4
	45 or above	2.3
Educational level	Primary or less	2.7
	Secondary school	23.6
	University	63.9
	Postgraduate	7.5
	Other	2.3
Marital status	Single	73.2
	Married	23.4
	Divorced	2.5
	Widow	0.9
Occupation	Student	67.6
	Governmental	9.5
	Private	11.3
	Other	5
	None/Unemployed	6.6
Monthly income (SDG)	<5000 SDG	53.5
	5000–9000 SDG	31.1
	10,000–14,000 SDG	5.4
	15,000–19,000 SDG	6.1
	20,000–24,000 SDG	1.6
	>25,000 SDG	2
Residence area	Khartoum State	78.2
	Other state	19.7
	Other nationality	2

. The findings indicate that the majority of people were male, accounting for 52.6% of the total, while females accounted for 47.4%. A significant majority of visitors were young, with 66.4% aged 24 or less and 27.9% aged 25 to 34. The majority (63.9%) of visitors held a university degree, followed by those with a terminal secondary school education (23.6%), those with a postgraduate education (7.5%), and finally, those with a primary school education or less (2.7%) and others (2.3%). The majority of visitors (73.2%) were single. Married individuals constituted 23.4% of the population, while divorced and widowed people represented 2.5% and 0.9%, respectively.

The most common visitor occupation was student, accounting for 67.6% of all surveyed visitors. A lesser fraction worked in the government (9.5%) or the private sector (11.3%), while other participants had other occupations (5.0%) and 6.6% were not working. Most visitors had a monthly income of less than 5000 SDG, with 53.5% falling into this category. Income levels gradually rose through the income tiers, with the lowest percentage (2.0%) reporting a monthly income of more than 25,000 SDG. It must be noted that when the essential data for this study were collected, 1 USD was equivalent to 55 SDG (Sudanese pounds) [39]. Most of the visitors were from Khartoum State, which hosted 78.2% of the total. Visitors from other Sudanese states constituted 19.7% of the total, with visitors of other nationalities contributing only 2.0%.

3.2. Visitor Behaviors and Their Perceptions of the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve

3.2.1. Visitors’ Behaviors and Their Evaluations

The results in Figure 2 identify the frequency of various factors related to visitors and their behaviors, such as travel partners, mode of transportation, time spent to arrive to the recreation site, season preferred for recreational purposes, days of the week, having a recreation plan for the year, travel time to visit the recreational site, and monthly income. The results show that out of the 441 respondents, 7.5% visited alone, while the majority of visitors (76.6%) visited with friends. Other travel partners included spouses (either wives, 2.9%, or husbands, 1.8%), families (8.2%), and other (2.9%). This demonstrates that the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve location is appropriate for social visits between family members and friends, and it reflects the behavior of reserve visitors among the respondents. Most people (81.6%) used public transportation to reach the recreation site, while 13.6% used personal vehicles. A small percentage reported using other travel agents or other means of transportation. This shows that visitors to the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve site use different modes of transportation. Additionally, the results found that the majority of visitors (56.7%) spent one hour or less to reach the recreation site, while 32.2% of the visitors spent 1.1–2.0 h traveling to the site. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain the road networks leading to the forest to ensure that visitors have a comfortable journey.

A significant majority of respondents (79.6%) indicated that they had a recreation plan to visit the site at least once per year. On the other hand, 20.4% of respondents had no specific plan. The results revealed that 59.6% of visitors preferred to visit the site during the summer season, followed by 34.2% who preferred to visit the forest in the winter, and 6.1% of visitors preferred autumn. Furthermore, the results of visitors frequenting the site on different days of the week showed that 7.7% of respondents preferred to visit the forest site on working days, 58.3% of respondents preferred to visit the forest site on weekends, and 34% of respondents preferred public holidays. Moreover, when we questioned the respondents about monthly income resources, the results showed that 99.8% of respondents had a source of monthly income, while only 0.2% of respondents had no monthly income.

3.2.2. Preferences Regarding Forest Ecosystem Service Functions among Visitors

The findings in Figure 3 show that the majority of respondents had a positive perception of the services provided in the forest, including boating, swimming, leisure, outdoor gaming facilities, and bird watching. The findings showed that, with a participation rate of 35%, outdoor gaming facilities were the preferred choice of most visitors. Other activities contributed to varying percentages of visitors’ participation, with lower levels. With 22.0% and 24.0% of respondents engaging in swimming and enjoyment, respectively, these activities were also comparatively frequent. Fewer individuals enjoyed boating and watching birds, which accounted for 6.1% and 4.2% of respondents, respectively. A total of 2.7% of respondents fell into the “other” group. This is a result of the forest site’s lack of various amenities connected to recreational activities.

Additionally, the findings showed that a significant percentage of the participants had a positive opinion of outdoor game facilities, swimming, and recreational facilities, as indicated by the higher frequencies and percentages they obtained. Boating and watching birds had lower frequencies and percentages, which may indicate that participants lacked interest in these activities that are attractive or accessible.

3.2.3. An Analysis of How Varying Socioeconomic Backgrounds Affected the Perceptions of Forests and Ecosystem Services

The analysis in

Table 2. Analysis of relationships between perceptions and variations in socioeconomic status among visitors to the AL-Sunut Forest site. The significance level was set at an acceptable level of p ≤ 0.05.

Socioeconomic Factor		Sum of Squares	df	Mean Square	F	Sig.
Gender	Between Groups	0.911	5	0.182	0.727	0.604
	Within Groups	109.039	435	0.251
	Total	109.950	440
Age Group	Between Groups	0.851	5	0.170	0.377	0.864
	Within Groups	196.210	435	0.451
	Total	197.061	440
Education Status	Between Groups	0.602	5	0.120	0.247	0.941
	Within Groups	211.643	435	0.487
	Total	212.245	440
Occupation	Between Groups	19.819	5	3.964	2.668	0.022
	Within Groups	646.141	435	1.485
	Total	665.959	440
Monthly Income	Between Groups	0.023	5	0.005	2.087	0.066
	Within Groups	0.974	435	0.002
	Total	0.998	440
Residential Area	Between Groups	0.986	5	0.197	0.884	0.492
	Within Groups	97.014	435	0.223
	Total	98.000	440

employed an independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA to determine if visitors from different socioeconomic backgrounds had different perceptions. The results showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in examining the relationships between perceptions and variations in socioeconomic status among visitors to the AL-Sunut Forest site. The analysis provided information on different socioeconomic factors, including gender, age group, education status, occupation, monthly income, and residential area, and their associations with visitors’ perceptions. The results showed that there was no significant relationship between gender, age group, education status, monthly income, and residential area and visitors’ perceptions. However, there was a significant relationship between occupation and visitors’ perceptions; the significance level was 0.022.

As a result, based on the significance levels, occupation was the only socioeconomic factor with a statistically significant relationship with visitor perceptions The sum of squares was 19.819, with 5 degrees of freedom. The mean square was 3.964, and the F-value was 2.668. The significance level was 0.022, suggesting a significant relationship between occupation and visitors’ perceptions. Other factors, such as gender, age group, education level, monthly income, and residential area, had no statistically significant relationship with visitors’ perceptions. Between groups, the total of the squares was 0.602, with 5 degrees of freedom. The mean square was 0.120, with an F-value of 0.247. The significance level was 0.941, indicating that there was no significant relationship between educational level and visitors’ perceptions.

3.2.4. Recreation Plans for Forest Ecosystem Service Functions among Visitors

The results showed that 79.6% of visitors had a recreation plan each year for recreation purposes, while 20.4% did not. The results indicated that the majority of visitors were willing to create a recreation plan on an annual basis for recreational activities. The analysis of factors influencing the decision to have a recreation plan included a model with an R-squared value of 0.051 (

Table 3. Model summary of the factors that affected recreation plans for the year. The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.

Model	R	R-Squared	Adjusted R-Squared	Std. Error of the Estimate	Change Statistics
					R-Squared Change	F Change	df1	df2	Sig. F Change
1 a b	0.227 a	0.051	0.027	0.39799	0.051	2.111	11	429	0.019 b

a. Predictors: monthly income, education status, travel time to visit recreation site, travel partners, gender, mode of transportation, occupation, season preferred for recreational purposes, days frequently visited, most of the time alone or with group, age. b. Dependent variable: recreation plan for the year.

), which indicated that the differences in the eleven independent variables accounted for only 5.1% of the variance in recreation plans per year. Hence, other factors explained 94.9% of the variance. The results showed that the majority of visitors expressed their willingness to establish an annual recreation plan. However, the other factors represented only a small percentage of the annual variations in recreation plans.

Based on the results in

Table 4. ANOVA test.

Model		Sum of Squares	df	Mean Square	F	Sig.
1	Regression	3.679	11	0.334	2.111	0.019 b
	Residual	67.954	429	0.158
	Total	71.633	440

Dependent variable: recreation plan for the year. ^b. Predictors: monthly income, education status, travel time to visit recreation site, travel partners, gender, mode of transportation, occupation, season preferred for recreational purposes, days frequently visited, most of the time alone or with group, and age.

, the ANOVA test, referred to as the F-test, showed an F-value of 2.111, with a significance value of 0.019. Since the significance value was less than 0.05, it can be inferred that the regression coefficients of the factors, such as monthly income, education status, travel time to visited the recreation site, travel partners, gender, mode of transportation, occupation, season preferred for recreational purposes, days frequently visited, spending most of the time alone or with a group, and age, affected annual recreation plans to visit the forest for recreational purposes.

According to the findings in

Table 5. Regression analysis to identify the relationships between factors shaping respondents’ perceptions of the AL-Sunut Forest during recreational activities.

Model		Unstandardized Coefficient		Standardized Coefficients	t	Sig.
		B	Std. Error	Beta
1	(Constant)	1.742	0.445		3.912	0.000
	Gender	0.065	0.039	0.081	1.698	0.090
	Age group	−0.011	0.030	−0.018	−0.357	0.721
	Education status	−0.024	0.028	−0.042	−0.885	0.377
	Occupation	0.025	0.016	0.077	1.529	0.127
	Mode of transportation	0.002	0.040	0.003	0.060	0.952
	Travel time to the visited site	−0.042	0.011	−0.175	−3.642	0.000
	Most of the time alone or in a group	−0.136	0.076	−0.090	−1.785	0.075
	Travel partners	0.001	0.018	0.003	0.069	0.945
	Season preferred for recreational purposes	−0.022	0.021	−0.051	−1.067	0.286
	Days frequently visited	−0.009	0.033	−0.014	−0.282	0.778
	Monthly income	−0.133	0.403	−0.016	−0.330	0.742

Dependent variable: recreation plan for the year.

, a regression analysis was used to determine the correlations between various characteristics and respondents’ perceptions of the AL-Sunut Forest during recreational activities. The analysis considered factors such as gender and age group, education status, occupation, mode of transportation, frequency of visits, preference for solo or group activities, travel partners, season preferred for recreational purposes, days frequently visited, and monthly income on the respondents’ perceptions, finding the regression coefficients (Beta) and standard errors for each of the variables. These coefficients showed both the strength and the direction of the relationships between the independent variables (factors) and the dependent variable (respondent perceptions of the forest). The standardized coefficients (t) were also provided, indicating the relative relevance of every factor for assessing perceptions. The results showed that among the 12 variables tested, only one variable—the time taken to visit the site—showed significant results, with α = 0.00. In contrast, the other variables showed significant values greater than 0.05. The purpose of this multiple regression analysis was to determine whether the independent variables could predict the dependent variable. The results showed that all independent variables were able to explain up to 5.1% of the dependent variable (R² = 0.051, F (2,227) = 2.111; p > 0.005). However, only the variable of time taken to visit the site showed a negative and significant influence (β = −0.175, p = 0.000).

Based on the results of the regression analysis, the variable of travel time to visit the site appeared to have a statistically significant relationship with the dependent variable “recreation plan per year,” while the other predictor variables (including gender, age group, education level, occupation, mode of transportation, travel partners, most of the time alone or with a group, season preferred for recreational purposes, days frequently visited, and monthly income) showed a negative significant relationship. This indicates that factors such as travel time to visit the site may have had a more notable influence on respondents’ perceptions of the AL-Sunut Forest during recreational activities, while other variables seemed to have no statistically significant relationships with perceptions.

3.2.5. Interest in the Issues of the Forest Ecosystem among Visitors

According to the findings in Figure 4, which assesses visitors’ interest in forest ecosystem issues focusing on the influence of gender and age groups, the results show that 56% of visitors displayed interest in forest ecosystem issues, while 37% indicated no interest. Examining the mean interest levels among males among different age groups, it was found that the youngest age group (24 or under) had the highest mean interest level of 1.463, which was a little higher than the other age groups. Males aged 25 to 34 had a lower mean interest level of 1.329. Additionally, the lowest interest levels were seen among males aged 35–44 and 45 or older, with both groups showing a mean interest level of 1.000. Similarly, females aged 24 or less had the highest mean interest level of 1.642. The mean interest level decreased to 1.244 for females in the age group of 25–34, and it remained relatively constant at 1.250 for females aged 35–44. Females who were 45 years old or older had the lowest level of interest, as indicated by a mean interest level of 1.000.

The results show that both genders’ interest in ecosystem-related issues typically decreases as they get older. The youngest age group (24 or less) had the highest mean interest ratings, while the oldest age group (45 or older) had the lowest mean interest levels. The findings also indicate that age and gender affect the interest of individuals in environmental issues. Younger people seem to be more interested in the forest ecosystem, while older individuals, irrespective of gender, show less interest. Furthermore, statistical tests, such as Levene’s test, were used to determine the equality of variances in the dependent variable (interest in forest ecosystem issues) between gender and age groups. The results revealed that there were considerable differences in variance between groups, indicating that interest levels differed by gender and age. The main effect of gender on the dependent variable was as follows: the findings showed that gender alone had no significant effect on interest in ecosystem issues (p = 0.575). The intercept had a substantial effect (p < 0.001), indicating that the model was generally statistically significant. These findings confirm that interest in forest ecosystem issues varies between gender and age groups. Younger people, regardless of gender, have higher levels of interest.

3.2.6. Correlation Analysis of Demographic Characteristics and Their Associations with Visitors’ Activities and Perceptions

Table 6. Correlation analysis of demographic characteristics and their associations with visitors’ activities and perceptions.

Variables		Value	Asymptotic Standard Error a	Approximate T b	Approximate Significance
Gender	Pearson’s R	0.049	0.048	1.025	0.306 c
	Spearman Correlation	0.041	0.048	0.852	0.395 c
Age Group	Pearson’s R	−0.003	0.044	−0.069	0.945 c
	Spearman Correlation	−0.022	0.047	−0.468	0.640 c
Marital Status	Pearson’s R	−0.067	0.044	−1.404	0.161 c
	Spearman Correlation	−0.058	0.046	−1.227	0.220 c
Education Status	Pearson’s R	−0.034	0.045	−0.716	0.474 c
	Spearman Correlation	−0.015	0.048	−0.310	0.757 c
Occupation	Pearson’s R	−0.052	0.054	−1.088	0.277 c
	Spearman Correlation	−0.087	0.049	−1.824	0.069 c
Residential Area	Pearson’s R	0.053	0.052	1.103	0.271 c
	Spearman Correlation	0.041	0.048	0.860	0.390 c
Monthly Income	Pearson’s R	−0.004	0.048	−0.080	0.937 c
	Spearman Correlation	0.005	0.048	0.110	0.913 c
No. of Valid Cases	441

^a. Not assuming a null hypothesis. ^b. Using the asymptotic standard error, assuming a null hypothesis. ^c. Based on normal approximation.

shows the findings of a correlation analysis investigating the relationships between key demographic factors and visitor actions and perceptions. The “Approximate Significance” shows the p-values corresponding with each correlation coefficient. The p-value indicates a probability of obtaining a correlation coefficient as extreme as the observed value, assuming no genuine correlation in the sample (a null hypothesis). There was little evidence of a link between demographic variables (gender, age group, marital status, education status, occupation, residence area, and monthly income) and visitor activities and perceptions. Most of the correlation coefficients were near zero, indicating significantly weak relationships; the p-values indicated that these correlations were not statistically significant. The p-values for all relationships were set beyond the significance level of α = 0.05. This means that none of the correlations in the analysis were statistically significant at the standard 5% level. Consider the relationship between gender and visitor activities and perceptions. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.049 indicates a very weak positive association.

However, the related p-value of 0.306 is over the significance level of 0.05. Based on our findings, we cannot conclude that gender has a statistically significant correlation with visitors’ activities and perceptions. In addition, none of the relationships between the other demographic variables, such as age group, marital status, education status, occupation, residential area, and monthly income, had p-values less than 0.05. This indicates that there is insufficient evidence to support the presence of significant associations between these demographic variables and the activities and perceptions of visitors.

3.3. Questionnaire Items Showing the Frequencies of Visitors’ Perceptions about AL-Sunut Forest

Responses to a Cluster of Questions about Visitor Knowledge

According to

Table 7. The frequencies of answers to the questions relating to visitors’ perceptions and knowledge of the forest ecosystem in AL-Sunut Forest.

Variable	Answer	Frequency	Percent (%)
I have a good knowledge of forest ecosystem issues	Yes	249	56.5
	No	121	27.4
	Do not know	71	16.1
When humans intervene in changing ecosystems, they often produce severe environmental consequences	Yes	340	77.1
	No	46	10.4
	Do not know	55	12.5
Forests are essential for biodiversity	Yes	404	91.6
	No	17	3.9
	Do not know	20	4.5
Forests are essential in tourism and biodiversity	Yes	422	95.7
	No	11	2.5
	Do not know	8	1.8
The forest provides several services if well managed	Yes	401	90.9
	No	24	5.4
	Do not know	16	3.6
The laws and regulations enforced in the state are sufficient to protect the AL-Sunut Forest/environment	Yes	195	44.2
	No	218	49.4
	Do not know	28	6.3
Educational programs in schools have a broad scope to cover knowledge of environmental issues among students	Yes	246	55.8
	No	163	37.0
	Do not know	32	7.3
I am interested in the issues of the ecosystem that are shown through different media	Yes	288	65.3
	No	104	23.6
	Do not know	49	11.1
I am very concerned with the environmental issues surrounding the forest	Yes	288	65.3
	No	111	25.2
	Do not know	42	9.5
By working positively with others, we can solve many environmental issues	Yes	387	87.8
	No	23	5.2
	Do not know	31	7.0
Environmental education is no less important than any other curriculum	Yes	348	78.9
	No	63	14.3
	Do not know	30	6.8
Efforts must be made to protect habitats and natural resources such as the forest	Yes	398	90.2
	No	22	5.0
	Do not know	21	4.8
Increasing the number of populations reflects negatively on the ecosystem services	Yes	312	70.7
	No	94	21.3
	Do not know	35	7.9
Encroachment on the forest negatively affects the ecosystem services system	Yes	355	80.5
	No	50	11.3
	Do not know	36	8.2
Do you support removing the forest for urban development purposes?	Yes	123	27.9
	No	297	67.3
	Do not know	21	4.8
The present behavior of individuals contributes to the conservation and protection of the environment	Yes	225	51.0
	No	190	43.1
	Do not know	26	5.9
In the event of any negative behavior detrimental to the forest, I have to inform the competent authorities	Yes	409	92.7
	No	17	3.9
	Do not know	15	3.4
Social media are among the most successful means of spreading environmental awareness	Yes	383	86.8
	No	33	7.5
	Do not know	25	5.7
Environmental events and activities have a significant impact on raising environmental awareness	Yes	367	83.2
	No	42	9.5
	Do not know	32	7.3
Community participation in various forms of environmental issues, such as global warming and pollution, helps to raise environmental awareness	Yes	326	73.9
	No	56	12.7
	Do not know	59	13.4

, the results from participants’ responses about the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with issues about awareness of the forest ecosystem are shown. This section started by asking if the participant had a good knowledge of forest ecosystem issues, where more than half of the participants agreed that they had good knowledge, whereas 27% of the participants responded that they did not have good knowledge. More than three-quarters of the participants responded positively that humans often produce severe environmental consequences when intervening in changing ecosystems. More than ten participants responded “NO” to the importance of forests in tourism and biodiversity. The results showed a similar percentage to the previous question: the forest provides several services if it is well managed.

The results showed that on whether the laws and regulations enforced in the state are sufficient to protect the AL-Sunut Forest/environment, 50% responded negatively, whereas 44% responded positively. Regarding educational programs in schools with a broad scope to cover knowledge of environmental issues among students, from the results, 56% responded “Yes” and 37% responded with “No.” To investigate if the participants were interested in issues of the ecosystem shown through different media, 65% responded “Yes.” A similar percentage was found for the question about whether the participant was very concerned with the environmental issues surrounding the forest. Regarding the question of whether the participant believed that by working positively with others, we can solve many environmental issues, 88% responded positively. According to the results, environmental education is not less important than any other curriculum; 79% of the participants responded positively. The statement that efforts must be made to protect habitats and natural resources such as the forest was positively answered by 90.2%.

4. Discussion

This study provides the first empirical evidence of measurement of the perceptions of the forest ecosystem among visitors to the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve in Khartoum, Sudan, and how visitors’ general knowledge of the ecosystem affects their attitudes toward ecosystem services. For the research questions, different factors were considered for the basic personal background information of the participants, such as gender, age, education level, and residential area. Based on the findings of the study, the demographic features of visitors to the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve have been presented. The results suggest that the forest site attracts a diverse range of individuals, particularly young people with higher education levels who predominantly come from Khartoum State, with a percentage of less than 80%, whereas around 20% of the participants lived in other states. It is most likely that AL-Sunut Forest Reserve is well known among the Sudanese rather than other nationalities.

Therefore, management plans should consider this in services and awareness-raising. Having sexes (male and female) as guests allows different groups to raise awareness. It is also beneficial to consider gender while providing both social and cultural services. As a result, assessing visitor occupation frequency can provide significant insights for improving resource management and decision-making in various contexts. Based on the analysis of visitors’ behaviors and evaluations of the forest ecosystem, the results indicate that the forest site is an attractive and important area with relatively limited accommodations, dining, and entertainment facilities. Overall, from the perspective of visitors’ behavior, there is room for improvement in terms of providing more complete amenities and services for visitors. This finding aligns with the results of [40], which demonstrated that the significance or value of urban forests did not vary significantly across gender, age, ethnicity, years of service, geography, education, and area of expertise.

For the majority of visitors, traveling to the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve requires a short journey, usually by public transportation. As a result, many visitors typically plan to stay for a few hours. Therefore, it is crucial to upgrade the accommodation, dining, and entertainment facilities so that visitors are encouraged to stay longer and enjoy the entertainment options available. Furthermore, the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve offers numerous public benefits that are difficult to quantify, in addition to the economic benefits of providing recreational opportunities [41]. Additionally, with the findings of past studies of a similar nature, tourists do recognize the study area’s significant natural resources [42]. Visitors’ backgrounds may have an impact on how they evaluate certain ecosystem services.

According to this study, various socioeconomic factors, such as travel partners, gender, mode of transportation, occupation, season preferred for recreational purposes, days frequently visited, and age group, did not have any significant impact on the frequency of visits to the forest for recreation purposes. The present study found that the regression coefficients of factors such as monthly income, education status, times visiting the recreation site, and the background of the visitors did not affect their yearly recreation plans to visit the forest [43]. These results are consistent with previous studies and suggest that the background of visitors may influence their evaluation of different types of ecosystem services [44]. This study also found that visitors had positive attitudes towards the functions of the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve for recreation purposes.

This study found that interest in ecosystem issues varies among males and females; males aged 24 or less showed a higher interest level, while females aged 25–34 had a lower interest among both males and females, visitors aged 24 or less had the highest interest, and then those aged 25–34 had a lower interest than those aged 24 or less—generally older people (both male and female) had less interest. The mean level of interest exhibited by females was greatest among individuals aged 24 or younger and lowest among those aged 35–44 and 45 or older. Interest in ecosystem-related issues tends to diminish with age. Furthermore, we found that there were variations in the level of interest in ecosystem questions between genders and age groups. The results confirm that age and gender may have an impact on people’s interest in environmental concerns, with younger people typically displaying higher levels of interest. Similar results were reported in other studies [45,46], which shows that a positive effect is visible once we focus on the impact of age on social norms (environmental morale).

The findings also indicated that the majority of visitors to the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve were willing to create an annual recreation plan for their recreation activities. This suggests that people plan their visits to the forest reserve based on the recreation opportunities provided by the reserve. Forests will become more common and increase in significance as recreational areas. Some studies revealed similar findings which suggested that with increased requests from city people for close contact with the environment, natural ecosystems such as wetlands will become more often visited and increase in significance as recreational sites [47,48]. Furthermore, urban forest research shows that city trees’ benefits surpass their expenses [49]. In addition, people have an understanding of environmental values, trends, and theories related to the conditions and issues in their community. They hold a position on these issues and encourage others to share it for it to be developed and passed down to future generations to support the country’s sustainable development [50]. Awareness perception is altered by many factors. Perception depends on age, education, gender, urban habitation, membership in ecological organizations, and nature trips [51,52,53].

According to the results, undergraduate students made up the lion’s share (63.9%), similarly to the occupational class, which comprised precisely 67.6% of the total participants in studying the impact of residential areas on the opinions of participants. Education levels are critical in influencing the establishment of regulatory and supporting services. This indicates a close relationship between forest protection and the economic status of ecosystem services. For example, the poorest and least educated residents were unaware of the fewer linkages between agricultural and forest services. In fact, Ryan et al., Martin-Lopez et al., and Poppenborg et al. [54,55,56] acknowledged the importance of forest ecosystem services, and they emphasized supporting services, particularly the value of forests, which are critical for biodiversity. In general, the research results repeatedly show that education levels and economic position have a significant impact on residents’ awareness, perceptions, and valuation of many types of forest ecosystem services. Higher education and economic status are linked to a stronger respect for forests’ regulatory and support responsibilities [57].

Our results show that visitors were most concerned with the fact that the forest provides many services if well managed; similar results have been reported in other studies [58]. According to the results regarding awareness of the repercussions of environmental harm, the participants believed that by working positively with others, we can solve many environmental issues, with 87.8% responding positively, which matches with the study “Students’ Environmental Awareness and Pro-Environmental Behaviour”, which concluded that environmental awareness is the primary motivating factor that fosters knowledge [59]. Additionally, it found that environmental awareness cultivates a community of well-informed and empowered individuals who actively participate in beneficial environmental actions to safeguard ecosystems [59]. Additionally, our results show that female students were significantly more worried about the environment than male students. Studies [60,61] found that “females tend to be more concerned about environmental pollution” and also that “female students show more environmental awareness than male students.”

The findings of the present study also demonstrate that students’ frequency of direct encounters in forests is highly related to the value visitors place on specific ecosystem services provided by forests, mainly cultural services; considering that they use the ecosystem more frequently, this result was expected. Previous study results have shown that visitors with a higher degree of education valued the forest’s ability to provide services more than those who could not attain a higher education [62]. Education and economic status favorably influence knowledge and attitudes about regulating and supporting services, in agreement with the findings of Zhang et al. [63]. Awareness of the forests can explain this, as they emphasized that the many services the forest can provide, such as fresh air, were frequent reasons to visit the forests.

Based on the findings of the correlation analysis investigating the relationships between key demographic factors and visitor actions and perceptions, there was insufficient evidence to show that demographic variables such as gender, age, education level, occupation, etc., have a weak statistical relationship with visitors’ activities at and perceptions of the site. Based on these results, demographic characteristics do not appear to have a substantial influence on visitors’ activities and perceptions. This is in contrast to previous studies [64,65], which revealed that demographic characteristics were connected with tourism perceptions and preferences. Our results found that awareness of the importance of forest ecosystem services is influenced by the use of education curricula that deal with the forest as primary educational material in environmental topics. These results also correspond with findings that perception is influenced by several factors, including age, education level, gender, residence area, association with environmental organizations, and frequency of visits to nature [51,52].

However, further research is required to corroborate this. Nonetheless, these results and methodology could be helpful for future studies on visitors’ attitudes about forests and ecosystems.

5. Conclusions and Recommendations

5.1. Conclusions

This study sought to understand and ensure the importance of the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve for visitors and evaluate the extent of their knowledge and perceptions of the significance of ecosystems, as well as to assess the importance of the forest. Based on individual preferences, our findings demonstrate the interest of civil society in elements of biodiversity and cultural services. They also identify many uniform groups of attitudes and perceptions about ecosystems. This is a modest but essential first step toward a deeper comprehension of the links between the forest and society that support wise policy and sound governance on the part of decision-makers.

Visitors to AL-Sunut Forest Reserve viewed the forest environment as significant and valuable. Their high willingness to revisit the forest indicates that they had a positive attitude toward its recreational potential. Visitors showed a certain level of understanding of the ecosystem services the forest provides, indicating that they were aware of its benefits beyond their immediate recreational purposes. Visitors from different backgrounds perceived ecosystem services in significantly different ways, indicating the impact of socioeconomic factors on visitors’ perceptions.

The majority of participants agreed that environmental education is important, indicating the necessity for awareness campaigns and programs that promote the public’s understanding of the significance of forests and ecosystems. This study confirms the generally accepted notion that forests are essential to human well-being because they offer an assortment of ecosystem services, including cultural services such as recreation, conservation, spiritual encouragement, and esthetic enjoyment. Otherwise, if forest management is not improved and strengthened, a city’s ecosystem function will be lacking since urban forests are crucial in easing problems related to environmental concerns and people’s well-being.

Knowledge of the specific impact of urban forests on both the environment and humans is a crucial component of an overall sustainable city strategy. Furthermore, the urban ecological footprint goes well beyond municipal boundaries. Urban regions have a critical role in global ecosystems. A prominent consequence of urban expansion is habitat loss, leading to widespread loss of biological variety. Although scientists have made significant advances in conveying the concepts and vital components needed to protect biodiversity, their work will not have much of an impact until people who are making decisions about how to use resources understand and use them.

5.2. Recommendations

This study’s findings provide several recommendations. Based on the findings, most visitors show respect for the ecological services provided by urban forests and are willing to contribute to their conservation and accessibility. Their enthusiasm for urban forests and understanding of their advantages to the environment and contributions to the welfare of city people are the reasons for this. They are also aware that maintaining urban trees requires a specific amount of financial commitment. Comprehensive financial administration and planning are therefore required.

In this case, forest managers must perform regular maintenance to guarantee that urban forest places are acceptable, that the services offered are improved continually, and that the area’s safety is guaranteed to ensure visitors’ satisfaction when visiting and conducting activities in urban forests. Thus, governments and communities can use these places’ concepts, management, and maintenance as a model to attract more people, encourage them to visit, participate in recreational activities, and enjoy all that is provided while also increasing environmental awareness. This may also improve the quality of life in Sudan’s urban forests. In addition, the outcomes of this study can serve as a foundation for further research. For instance, researchers can investigate the factors that influence people’s preferences for certain activities or examine the relationship between visitors’ demographics and their activity choices. It is recommended that all stakeholders involved in urban forestry take a holistic approach to planning, developing, and managing urban forests. To guarantee the achievement of sustainable development objectives, this strategy should allocate funds for the conservation and management of urban forest ecosystem services and promote public participation in decision-making. A better understanding of people’s perceptions and knowledge is critical to successful participatory natural resource management that safeguards the future of the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve ecosystem.

6. Limitations and Future Perspectives

6.1. Limitations

This study has several limitations, which we acknowledge. Case studies are excellent for learning more about conditions that are insufficiently understood, such as public perceptions of urban forest ecosystems. On the other hand, case study research has a limitation in that the findings are not generally universal. Because the study’s emphasis on the AL-Sunut Forest Reserve in Khartoum, Sudan, may have limited the findings’ applicability to other areas, the results may be limited in their applicability to other forest sites due to the distinctive characteristics and surroundings of this study place. The sample size and sampling technique must be disclosed in the paper. A limited or non-representative sample could compromise the validity and dependability of the study’s conclusions. For accurate inferences, it is imperative to guarantee that the sample fairly represents the intended population.

This study depended on self-reported information gathered via a questionnaire. Potential biases in this strategy include recollection bias and social desirability bias. Participants can give responses they think are more appropriate in social situations or that do not fully reflect what they know or have experienced. Moreover, this study offers an overview of visitors’ attitudes and understanding at a specific point in time. A more thorough understanding of the dynamics of visitor perceptions and the efficacy of awareness efforts would be possible with long-term data that analyze changes in attitudes and knowledge over time.

6.2. Future Perspectives

The opinions and understanding of ecosystem services among visitors to Sudan and other sites could be better understood by conducting comparison research across various forest locations. Analyzing disparate situations and cultural backgrounds can yield important insights into the elements affecting public perceptions of urban forests. Also, studies with a longitudinal approach, which monitors visitors over time, can record shifts in attitudes and understanding as well as pinpoint possible causes of these shifts. This would give researchers more comprehensive knowledge of long-term influences on visitor attitudes and behaviors, in addition to the efficacy of awareness activities.

Using qualitative research techniques, such as focus groups or interviews, in addition to quantitative data collection can yield a more profound understanding of visitors’ attitudes, experiences, and the driving forces around urban forests. Qualitative data can clarify particular aspects of urban forest management and help identify underlying causes influencing visitor perceptions. To understand different stakeholders’ perspectives on urban forests and ecosystem services, future research may involve interacting with local people, legislators, and environmental groups. This would help provide a more thorough understanding of social dynamics and any conflicts associated with managing urban forests. It would be beneficial to evaluate the actual effects of educational programs and public awareness campaigns on the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of visitors. This would support the assessment of the programs’ efficacy and direct plans for raising public knowledge of ecosystems and sustainable urban development. In addition, the economic advantages of forests can be measured through economic valuation studies, which can offer more proof of their significance. Prioritizing urban forest conservation and investment can be aided by policymakers by evaluating the economic value of ecosystem services such as the decrease in air pollution or recreational advantages. In general, by addressing these limitations and carrying out additional research, it will be possible to have more thorough knowledge of how visitors view urban forests and ecosystem services, which will improve management and conservation strategies.

In conclusion, our study can improve the participatory and discussed decision-making process in forest planning and management. The varying interests of a community’s numerous components (authorities, participants, and citizens) are crucial in resource decisions. More research, however, is required to understand how and in what ways to engage the community in these decisions.