Local radio and SMS campaigns for environmental awareness, forest fire crisis management, and educational intervention in Kabylie, Algeria

Forest fires in Algeria pose a significant environmental threat, particularly in the north of the country, especially the Kabylie region, known for its mountains and dense vegetation. This research paper examines the role of local radio stations, specifically Tizi Ouzou and Soummam radio stations, and awareness campaigns via Short Message Service (SMS), in raising awareness and promoting environmental citizenship values among individuals to mitigate the recurring fires. The paper also considers how these communication tools may be translated into educational interventions in schools, universities, community learning spaces, and informal family learning environments. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research relies on observation, interviews and analysis of SMS-based campaigns. The results indicate that local radio plays a crucial role because of its accessibility, linguistic diversity and interaction with the public, while SMS campaigns remain useful but limited in targeting and detail. The study demonstrates that local radio and SMS messaging contribute to raising awareness of forest fires, but their educational value would be strengthened if they were linked to repeated classroom activities, school-community projects, learner-produced radio segments, and crisis-preparedness exercises. With sustained and diversified awareness campaigns, environmental citizenship will undoubtedly be strengthened.