Preventing and fighting forest wildfires in Apulia and Epirus

The Kick-off meeting of the project Ofidia 2 – Operational FIre Danger preventIon platform, co-funded for 1.854.000 euro by the Interreg V-A Greece-Italy Programme 2014-2020, was held on May 7th – 8th, 2018 in Lecce.

A fruitful cooperation between scientific research, cutting-edge technologies, policymakers and Italian and Greek public agencies will improve the safety of the environment and protect it from wildfires danger. The lead Partner of the project is the CMCC Foundation and the project partners are the Decentralized Administration of Epirus-Western Macedonia, Forest Directorate (DAEWM), the University of Ioannina, the Civil Protection Section the Apulia Region. The associated partners are the Municipality of Lecce and ARIF (Regional Agency for Irrigation and Forest Activities)

A network of technologies, infrastructures and scientific knowledge is the main feature of the project that aims to develop environmental protection measures in Apulia (Italy) and the Epirus Region (Greece) in order to prevent and fight wildfires in the forests and rural areas.

HD video cameras, wireless sensors networks and drones are the tools provided to monitor remotely located areas in the two Regions, and a new control room will be the headquarters of operational activities.

OFIDIA 2 project capitalizes on the results of the previous Ofidia project, funded during the 2007-2013 Programming Period, by covering a larger area in both regions. The wireless sensors networks is an operational big data infrastructure that makes available information to protect the environment, its biodiversity, and the natural environmental heritage, which are pivotal resources for the growth of the involved area.

Prof. Patrizia Guida – Education, Europe and International Cooperation, Municipality of Lecce: “We are glad to take part in Ofidia2. The Municipality of Lecce will work to involve the schools in several activities related to the project. We will set up a contest for middle school students. It will be a way to exploit the potential of this scientific project and also to increase the participation of young generations, enhancing their awareness of topics that are highly relevant to our community. For these reasons, we will also set up a communication campaign on wildfire prevention”.

Prof. Giovanni Aloisio ­– CMCC Foundation (Project coordinator), Italy: “Ofidia2 primarily capitalizes on what was successfully made by the first Ofidia project. It is an evidence of how high-level scientific research can contribute to the dialogue with the stakeholders and the society. This dialogue is pivotal to find solutions to complex topics that are critical for the Regions involved in the Programme. Technological infrastructures, such as the Supercomputing Center, an advanced scientific knowledge, the collaboration with policy-makers and stakeholders and the use of cutting-edge innovation technologies enhance a process that is aimed at benefiting the whole society”.

Prof. Stergios Anastasiadis – University of Ioannina, Greece: “The Greek partners are grateful for the support received from the Interreg Greece-Italy 2014-2020 programme for the approval of the OFIDIA2 project. Based on the enormous expertise gathered from OFIDIA1 and the very positive feedback from the participating stakeholders, we are optimistic about delivering improved weather forecasts and even more powerful and flexible tools of high value to the regional and national authorities for the effective prevention and fighting of forest wildfires in the cross-border area.”

Gianfranco Gadaleta JS Coordinator “Ofidia 2 belongs to the 41 projects funded under the first call of Interreg V-A Greece-Italy Programme. The 41 projects have a total funded budget of 53.600.000 euro and involve 191 partners among Regions, Municipalities, Universities, Chamber of Commerce and Research Centers located in Apulia and in the 3 Greek Regions that participate in the Programme (Region of Epirus, Region of Ionian Islands and Region of Western Greece”.