Local people’s participation in Jubbah Heritage Site conservation: extending the motivation, opportunity, and ability (MOA) theory

A study on the Jubbah Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia reveals that negative perceptions significantly hinder local community participation in conservation efforts, while positive factors such as opportunities, awareness, and place attachment enhance engagement. Contrary to expectations, positive perception alone did not significantly boost participation levels. The research extends the motivation, opportunity, and ability (MOA) theory by incorporating place attachment, using a questionnaire-based approach with statistical analysis to assess resident attitudes and behaviors. Findings highlight the complex interplay between perceptions, decision-making interest, and environmental factors in shaping heritage conservation involvement.

Abdelazim, T., Alfraidi, Y., Tueaiman, A., Alhamli, F., Elhassan, A., & Nassr, A. (2025). Local people’s participation in Jubbah Heritage Site conservation: extending the motivation, opportunity, and ability (MOA) theory. Npj Heritage Science, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-01554-9