The Municipality of Sežana and the Municipality of Komen, as part of the KARST-SAFE - Preventive Measures for a Safe Karst project, organised four workshops for the local population between 28 November and 9 December.
The workshops presented the fire prevention measures implemented by the Sežana Fire and Rescue Service and the Slovenian Forest Service as part of the project's regular activities and activities. Particular attention was paid to the presentation of the call for citizens to carry out preventive fire-fighting measures under the KARST-SAFE project. Through the public presentation, the municipalities wanted to seek the opinion of those present in order to improve the content of the call, with the aim of ensuring that the Interreg Italy-Slovenia funding of EUR 195,000 will be used for the most effective fire-fighting measures. Following the implementation of the call for proposals, the measures will be carried out in the area of the municipalities of Sežana and Komen by the end of mid-term 2025.
The large turnout at the workshops - 85 interested citizens were present, the majority of whom were herbivore breeders - underlined the need to provide such activities. It was livestock farmers who showed the greatest interest in participating in the most effective fire protection measure, grazing. Grazing contributes in the long term to the clearing of combustible substances in the vicinity of the village and thus significantly reduces the risk of fires spreading.
Awareness-raising and education workshops were also supported by the publication of an information leaflet on preventive measures to prevent the spread of fires from the natural environment to the living environment. The leaflet was presented for the first time at the workshops and will be distributed to all houses in the two municipalities in the coming days.
The KARST-SAFE activities demonstrate the importance of local community stakeholders working together to protect people and settlements. By organising workshops and involving livestock keepers in preventive measures, the Municipality of Sežana continues its activities to ensure a safe and sustainable environment in the Karst region.