On April 8th, 2025, the town of Škofja Loka hosted an international expert meeting on disaster recovery and spatial planning in the Alpine region, held as part of the Alpine Convention Day. The event was organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of Slovenia and marked the conclusion of Slovenia’s two-year presidency of the Alpine Convention.
The meeting focused on the urgent need to improve resilience to natural hazards in Alpine areas, particularly in light of the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters. Representatives of municipalities, spatial planners, and project designers from Alpine Convention contracting parties gathered to exchange knowledge, experiences, and good practices in spatial planning and reconstruction following natural disasters.
Our colleagues Anita Pokorn Oman from Development Agency Sora and Wolfgang Lexer from the Environment Agency Austria presented innovative tools and methodologies developed within the X-RISK-CC project to enhance risk assessment and climate change adaptation across Alpine territories. Their presentation underlined the importance of transnational cooperation in fostering long-term resilience and supporting evidence-based spatial planning.
The expert discussions underscored the need for more efficient coordination between local and national stakeholders, particularly when it comes to implementing climate adaptation measures and reconstruction efforts after extreme weather events. Participants also discussed the importance of integrating scientific research with real-world planning and decision-making.
The event concluded with a field visit in Škofja Loka, where participants visited sites that were severely affected by the August 2023 floods. These included the recently reconstructed Hudičeva brv footbridge and the flood-prone area at the confluence of the Poljanska and Selška Sora rivers—areas that clearly illustrate the need for proactive spatial and risk management in the face of climate change.
This expert meeting reaffirmed the Alpine Convention’s commitment to supporting adaptation to climate change and disaster resilience through joint efforts and knowledge exchange among Alpine countries.
International Expert Meeting in Škofja Loka Highlights the Need for Greater Resilience to Natural Hazards in the Alpine Region
