A Preliminary Investigation Into the Environmental Awareness of the Omani Public and Their Willingness to Protect the Environment (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Fifteen years have elapsed since the Rio Summit (in Rio De Janeiro in 1992) and the publication of the Agenda 21 Report as a blue print for countries to pursue Sustainable Development(1). The Sultanate of Oman, as most countries in the region, has reacted by restructuring the environmental administrative infrastructure and the replacement of the Higher Council for the Environment with the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Environment (1991). In order to increase geographic coverage and effectiveness, the Ministry was expanded to become the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources (2001). The Manpower that the Musicality and the Water Resources Administration brought in allowed the newly established ministry to reach out the various cities, towns and villages in the Sultanate. The media often declares that environmental issues and environmental problems in the Sultanate of Oman have gained more public attention in the last few decades. However, no specific research had been undertaken to investigate the level of environmental awareness of the public and to find out their attitudes towards the environment.