Promote mobile propaganda on forest fire prevention

During the hot season, prolonged dry weather and careless activities of people living in the forest are creating a high risk of forest fires in Soc Son district.

Faced with this situation, the Hanoi Forest Protection Department (Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment) has synchronously deployed many fire prevention measures, in which mobile propaganda work has been identified as the key to raising public awareness.

Mobile vehicle of Forest Ranger Division No. 4 ( Hanoi Forest Ranger Department) propagates forest fire prevention and control in Soc Son district. Photo: Hoang Van

Propaganda to every corner, protect the forest from the root

Soc Son district has more than 4,500 hectares of forest and forestry land in 11 communes and towns. The forests here not only regulate the ecological environment but are also important “green lungs” of the capital. However, summer is also the time when fires easily break out, threatening forest resources, biodiversity and people's lives.

In fact, many forest fires in recent years have been caused by slash-and-burn farming, improper vegetation management, or simply careless cigarette butts. The damage is not limited to the burned forest area but also has serious consequences for the environment, people's health, and efforts to prevent climate change.

Faced with this situation, the Hanoi Forest Protection Department has assigned Forest Protection Division No. 4 to coordinate with communes and towns with forests in Soc Son district to deploy many measures to prevent and combat forest fires during the hot season. In particular, mobile propaganda is considered the "key" to help the forest rangers spread the message of forest protection to each household.

Deputy Head of Forest Protection Department No. 4 Le Van Duc said that in addition to propaganda through fixed loudspeakers or meetings with people, the unit also uses cars with loudspeakers to go to all communes and villages with forests, broadcasting fire warnings, instructing people on how to use fire safely and what to do when a fire occurs.

In Minh Tri commune, a forest hotspot in the district, Chairman of the Commune People's Committee Dinh Van Bao said that mobile propaganda helps bring information to each person directly, clearly, and easily understood. This form is especially suitable for scattered residential areas in the locality. In addition, propaganda teams also distribute leaflets, posters, and oral propaganda to increase attractiveness, helping people to remember and practice easily.

According to Phu Linh Commune Party Secretary Truong Ngoc Lan, one of the highlights in the forest rangers' propaganda work on forest fire prevention and control is the strong participation of Party cell secretaries, village chiefs, and mass organizations such as the Youth Union, Women's Union, Farmers' Association... all of whom have become non-professional but effective propagandists.

Along with that, local forest rangers and commune officials were also trained in propaganda skills and handling forest fire situations, ensuring quick and effective coordination with people in emergency situations. Thanks to that, from the beginning of 2025 until now, in the communes of Minh Tri, Minh Phu, Bac Son, Quang Tien, Tien Duoc, Phu Linh... there has been a strong change in people's awareness in proactively preventing and fighting forest fires.

Long term solution

Deputy Head of Forest Protection Department No. 4 Le Van Duc affirmed that compared to the same period many years ago, from the beginning of 2025 until now, the number of forest fires has decreased sharply. Specifically, the whole district had 5 fires, damaging about 4.6 hectares of forest and some small fires were detected early by people, handled promptly, preventing the fire from spreading and causing damage to forestry. Although there have been positive changes in forest fire prevention and control, mobile propaganda work still faces many difficulties such as large areas, many residential areas located deep in the forest; the number of people and tourists entering and leaving the forest is large, difficult to control. In addition, the means and resources for propaganda are still limited such as the number of vehicles with mobile loudspeakers is small, the propaganda team is mainly part-time, and has not been properly trained in communication and skills to handle forest fire situations.

To further improve the effectiveness of propaganda, the Hanoi Forest Protection Department is implementing many new directions. Notably, it is necessary to diversify media, combining direct and online communication such as creating short videos, using social networks, and applying technology to forest fire warnings. The Department also proposed that the city increase investment in equipment, organize training courses, and train professional propaganda teams for communes and towns with forests, especially linking propaganda with handling of violations, in order to create deterrence and strictness in forest management.

During the peak season of forest fire risk, the Hanoi Forest Protection Department directed Forest Protection Unit No. 4 to coordinate with relevant units to guide forest owners and People's Committees of communes with forests to plan and develop forest protection, forest fire prevention and fighting plans according to the "4 on-site" principle; organize forces to regularly patrol and inspect key areas prone to forest fires. In particular, local forest rangers focus on patrolling locations with frequent people entering and leaving the forest such as eco-tourism areas, resorts, spiritual tourism areas, etc. to control fire sources and prevent fires from spreading into the forest.

Reality shows that when every citizen understands that just a small cigarette butt can burn down an entire forest and they have the responsibility to protect the forest with the smallest actions, then the forest will be truly safe.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/day-manh-tuyen-truyen-luu-dong-phong-chay-rung-705282.html