Local Authorities for Forest Fire Prevention

 

Forest Cities - LIFE08 ENV/GR/000553

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Partners - Municipality of Serres

General description

The city of Serres is located northeast of Thessaloniki in distance 85 km and is the capital of Prefecture of Serres. Furthermore, it is near to the boundaries of Bulgaria in distance 45 km. According to the 2001 census, the resident population of Municipality of Serres is 56.145 people, meaning the 27.87% of the population of  Prefecture of Serres.
The municipal extent is 253 square km.
Municipality of Serres includes 4 municipal departments : Municipal Department of Serres, Municipal Department of Elaionas, Municipal Department of Eptamili and Municipal Department of Oinoussa.

Internal structure

According to the Internal Operating Regulation (F.E.K. – Journal of Government’s paper 1305/v.B’/2.7.2009), Municipality of Serres consists of :

• Secretariat of Municipal Politics
• General Division
• Administrative and Economic Services Division
• Technical Services Division
• Cleaning Division
• Division of Center Citizen Services
• Municipal Policy Division

Experience in European programmes

Municipality of Serres implemented with success programmes co-financed by the European Union (Community Initiatives INTERREG IIIA, INTERREG IIIC, LIFE, Operational Programmes “Information Society”, “Culture”, “Environment”, as well as LEADER+ and the Regional Operational Programme of Central Macedonia) during the 3rd Community Support Framework. During the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007-2013, Municipality of Serres has already applied for proposals in the following co-financed programmes : Operational Programmes “Digital Convergence”, “Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship”, European Territorial Cooperation Programme Greece-Bulgaria 2007 -2013, Black Sea 2007 – 2013 and the Regional Operational Programme of Central Macedonia.

Concerning the action “Local Authorities Alliance for Forest Fire Prevention”, which is co-financed by the Community Initiative LIFE +, the Municipal Council of Municipality of Serres approved the participation of Municipality in this action (budget 65.592,00 €) for specific reasons.
Analytically:
In the northern side of Municipality of Serres, there are hills and the first height of the mountain of “Vrontou” (Acropolis hill) whereas in the southern side there is the fertile valley of “Strimonas” river  (24 km southeast). Furthermore, there are admirable natural resources in the peripheral zone of the city of Serres.
The municipal forest of Serres and the municipal forest of Marmaras have a great significance for the citizens of Serres not only for aesthetics or relaxation.

• The municipal forest of Serres spreads in the lower banks of the mountain of “Vrontou”, total extent of 14.740 acres (6.354,80 acres belong to Municipality of Serres and 8.385,20 acres belong to owners). The municipal forest of Serres has also a great significance for the protection of the city due to floods and for the conservation of the natural environment and biodiversity.
• The municipal forest of Marmaras spreads in the western and the northwestern hills of the “Menikio” mountain, total extent 25.674,1 acres. The protective conditions, that the mountain creates, constitute the main reason, on which are based the subsequent aesthetic, healthy economic and further conditions.

It is necessary to be mentioned that the last five years (2006-2009), Municipality of Serres spended 293.113 € on fire protection. The economic resources were : a) Regional Operational Programme of Central Macedonia (amount : 197.906 €), b) Municipality’s own resources (amount : 61.628 €) and c) Programme “Civil Protection” of Ministry of Interior (amount : 33.579 €).

Given that forest fires is a phenomenon, which is figured on the category of natural disasters, Municipality of Serres, with its participation in the action “Local Authorities Alliance for Forest Fire Prevention”, face the issue of forest fires more consciously and responsibly in order to improve its ability in prevention matters, educate its personnel and sensitize its citizens.