The role of radio, television and mobile phones in disseminating information on occurrences of wildfire in Uluguru Mountains Nature Reserve – Morogoro Tanzania.

This study examines the role of radio, television, and mobile phones in disseminating wildfire hazard information among local communities around the Uluguru Mountains Nature Reserve in Tanzania. Findings indicate that while most villagers own radios and mobile phones, and fewer own televisions, only about 29% actively use these devices to receive or share wildfire information, with television usage for this purpose being negligible. Barriers such as poor infrastructure, limited knowledge on device use, financial constraints, fear of reporting, and weak signal coverage hinder effective communication. Alternative methods like word of mouth, loudspeakers, and the satellite-based Advanced Fire Information System (AFIS) Meraka are more commonly used for wildfire alerts. The study recommends enhancing community engagement with modern ICTs and improving infrastructure to better utilize available communication technologies for wildfire management and environmental conservation.