İnanç Özkan, SevimAksu, Güven2025-10-032025-10-03202522244980https://hdl.handle.net/11494/5977Climate change poses an escalating global threat, with particularly severe effects on ecologically fragile and socioeconomically vulnerable regions. Forest ecosystems—especially in mountainous areas like Artvin, located in northeastern Türkiye—are both sensitive to climate disturbances and vital for mitigation and adaptation efforts. This study explores the role of local communities in climate action by examining their awareness, motivations, and barriers to participation in environmental governance. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines structured surveys and in-depth interviews with 250 residents of forest-dependent villages, the research highlights the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in shaping place-based responses to climate challenges. Results show that while community members are often intrinsically motivated—driven by a strong connection to nature and a sense of responsibility toward future generations—practical engagement is hindered by information gaps, economic hardship, and bureaucratic constraints. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating local knowledge into institutional frameworks by promoting inclusive and participatory climate policies that empower rural forest communities.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccessClimate adaptationCommunity-based governanceForest ecosystemsLocal communitiesTraditional ecological knowledgeArticle15324725210.31407/ijees15.3272-s2.0-105017158824Q4