| Abstract: | In the year 2020, we commemorate the international year of plant health. In agriculture and gardening, the idea of plant health is well known, however, it is seldom mentioned for the natural environment. The forests are endangered by numerous native and non-native organisms, to whom our activities enable more and more fast and easy spread. For prevention or limitation of their spread, the activities of phytosanitary inspections and border controls at entering foreign goods are crucial; on the local level, this role is played by awareness of professional services, landowners, and all visitors of the nature to comply with the basic, i.e. biosecurity measures. Biosecurity is a complex of measures which reduce or totally prevent intake and transfer of harmful organisms from one location to another. The measures usually comprise cleaning all organic waste of plants and soil from the clothing, footwear, vehicles, and equipment and checking the interior of the vehicles regarding the presence of insects. In this article, we present Keep it clean, the extensive action by the United Kingdom, as an example of good practice and look for impediments and opportunities for applying it here. In Slovenia, the idea of biosecurity is established in the agriculture (e.g. in pig farming and hop production), however, it is rather unknown in forestry. Through the legally allowed free access to the forests, a dense network of forest roads, and, lately, increased forest visits, the potential for fast-spreading of harmful organisms is extremely large in the case of their presence. However, there is also much room for the improvement of the present situation. Among the opportunities, we can highlight making people aware of the hygiene and measures, needed for preventing the intake and transport of harmful organisms, updating the valid legislation in the field of plant health and forestry, necessary harmonization with the European legislation, and control over their implementation. However, we should by no means forget the greatest opportunity for every one of us to act responsibly toward the environment we live in. |
|---|
