Psychological ownership of nature and environmental responsibility among local recreational hunters

Purpose This study aims to explore psychological ownership of nature among local recreational hunters in villages surrounding Dana Biosphere Reserve in Jordan and how this feeling of ownership is reflected in their environmental responsibility. Design/methodology/approach Using a snowball sampling technique, this study recruited a sample of local recreational hunters and conducted semistructured interviews to obtain in-depth insights into their experiences and perspectives. Findings The findings reveal that hunters exhibit a strong sense of PO of nature, expressed through key dimensions of self-identity, possession and belongingness. This sense of ownership is associated with more responsible behavior. Participants demonstrated various environmentally responsible behaviors, including sustainable hunting practices, adherence to regulations and encouraging sustainable behavior among fellow hunters. Originality/value This study makes a novel contribution by investigating recreational hunters’ PO and demonstrating its role in fostering pro-environmental behavior. The findings indicate that hunters demonstrate a strong sense of PO, which in turn encourages environmental responsibility. Overall, this study is among the few scholarly efforts to apply PO theory in the context of outdoor recreation in general and recreational hunting in particular.