S76 REPORT OP THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



T 



PUBLICITY MEASURES IN FOREST PROTECTION 



HERE are distinctly two branches of publicity or educational work in 

 use by those engaged in forest protection, both of which are of immense 

 importance. 



1. The education of hunters, fishermen, campers, loggers and ranchers, 

 through the medium of rangers or patrolmen who come in contact with 

 these people. 



2. Education of the general public, and of county and town officials, 

 through circulation of printed matter, talks at public gatherings, motion 

 picture films, newspaper items, advertisements in papers, booklets which 

 reach the desired class of people, and by posting notices in conspicuous 

 places. 



No patrol or fire fighting organization can hope to get the maximum of 

 results unless public sentiment is favorable to the work being performed. Op- 

 position to forest protection, now practically eliminated, has been mainly from 

 two sources: — 



(a) People who thought their personal rights were being interfered 

 with, through laws and regulations requiring them to be careful with fire 

 and prohibiting burning when certain conditions existed. 



(b) Those who thought efforts to prevent fire would be futile and that 

 money expended to this end was thrown away. 



While many minor matters in method of work brought opposition, the main 

 adverse criticism can be largely traced to these two sources. 



Echoes of discontent on the part of those who think their personal liberties 

 are being abridged are occasionally heard at legislative times, and generally 

 originate from ranchers who feel they should be allowed to burn their slashings 

 whenever they see fit, without regard for the safety of other people's property. 

 At this time, however, the rights of adjoining property owners are generally 

 recognized. 



The second criticism has been thoroughly answered by the government 

 and the private patrols controlling fires, even though handicapped with forces 

 far too small to adequately do the work. 



A great deal of good can be done by field men employed by a fire protection 

 agency, aside from their active work of discovering and putting out fires. It 

 has been the policy of the Federal Government, many States, and most private 

 organizations to have their rangers cultivate the acquaintance of the people in the 

 territory they coyer. By doing this they not only establish personal relations, but 

 are able to explain what the fire laws are intended for, and what the patrol organ- 

 izations are trying to accomplish. By helping ranchers with their burning when 

 possible, and letting residents know that their object is not to hinder but help the 

 development of the country, wardens can usually secure the confidence and 

 support of the people, who in turn can be of great service in preventing fire. 



The general policy with regard to treatment of campers, hunters, and 

 fishermen is also to be courteous and helpful to them. By giving them accurate 



