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Abstract

This study aims to analyze the relationship between community knowledge, attitudes, and positive–negative perceptions toward the willingness to participate in the development of karst caves in Rongkop, Gunung Kidul, as a geosite. This area possesses unique geological potential but is threatened by limestone quarrying, making conservation initiatives urgent. Primary data were collected through interviews with 60 respondents selected via simple random sampling and analyzed using the Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The results show that attitude is the strongest predictor of willingness to participate. This attitude is significantly shaped by positive perception (PP) and inhibited by negative perception (NP). Furthermore, knowledge (K) serves as an effective initial driver, significantly increasing positive perception and reducing negative perception. Mediation analysis reveals that attitude fully mediates the influence of negative perception on participation and partially mediates the influence of positive perception. This confirms that education-based approaches to increasing knowledge and fostering positive attitudes are key to mobilizing community participation in the sustainable development of karst cave geosites.

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