
Karst Firewall 5.0
Specific objective: SO 4 - Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention, resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches
Typology: Standard project
The Karst Firewall 5.0 project addresses two challenges in the program area: wildfires and their governance. It aims to develop innovative action plans to preserve the health of the Karst region and maximize its resilience, with a forward-looking approach. Wildfires in the Karst region are primarily a result of ongoing climate change, as indicated by studies attributing changes in the wildfire regime to climate change. Current firefighting and wildfire management strategies are becoming less effective, necessitating new adaptive approaches. Given the transboundary nature of the study area, situated in the Karst landscape between Italy and Slovenia, it is crucial to promote cross-border cooperation between both countries. This collaboration is essential to address the urgent need for wildfire risk reduction and the development of timely response strategies, as highlighted by the significant wildfire event in the summer of 2022. This project integrates two broad umbrella concepts: socio-ecological and socio-technological systems. It aims to facilitate increased dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders directly involved in wildfire response and management on both sides of the border, as well as among actors from various sectors, including the broader community affected by wildfires.
- Development of an effective cross-border mechanism for wildfire prevention and management.
- Development and use of innovative digital systems employing advanced technologies such as drones, satellite imagery, predictive AI algorithms, and "electronic noses" for monitoring wildfire risk and providing support to first responders.
- Cross-border collaboration for the adoption of these technologies will promote more effective cross-border prevention systems and management protocols, aligning with the emerging Industry 5.0 approach.
The output are:
- develop a conceptual framework for promoting the reduction of wildfire risk through cross-border collaboration for effective adaptive wildfire management in Karst regions;
- Promote cross-border actions and solutions for reducing, preventing, and managing wildfire risk in the Karst area, supported by innovative digital tools and the Industry 5.0 approach.