Ljubljana hosting the WLF and joining Tokyo, Rome and Beijing

4^th World Landslide Forum (WLF) with this year’s topic “Landslide research and risk reduction for advancing culture of living with natural hazards” is currently taking place in Ljubljana, Slovenia and from 29^th May to 2^nd June 2017 more than 500 scientists, engineers, and researchers/policy makers working in the area of landslide technology, landslide disaster investigation and landslide remediation gather at the 4^th WLF, to share their work with others. The event, jointly organized by the International Consortium on Landslides (Kyoto, Japan), the International Programme on Landslides (IPL), the University of Ljubljana and the Geological Survey of Slovenia will present more than 400 presentation in 5-day varied programme.

The 4^th WLF is organized under the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, his excellency, Mr. Borut Pahor and chaired by prof. dr. Matjaž Mikoš, Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering (University of Ljubljana), also the head of the UNESCO Chair for reducing the risk of water floods. CD Congress Ljubljana, the largest congress centre in Slovenia is hosting the official part of the event and one of the 4^TH WLF locations includes also Ljubljana castle, a medieval fortress located right above the city centre and one of Ljubljana’s most visited tourist attractions which will be hosting the dinner banquet on the second day of the forum. With this kind of international events CD Congress Centre Ljubljana successfully fills the congress capacities in Ljubljana and Slovenia for 37 years in a row.

Ljubljana is the smallest city so far to organize the prestigious congress, WLF organizers wisely choosing the hosting city every time and this is a big move from previous large capital cities: the 3^rd WLF was organized in Beijing (2014), the 2^nd WLF in Rome (2011) and the first WLF congress in Tokyo (2008). Slovenia is a young European country with long tradition in landslide risk management that was always an important constitutional part of the organised landslide, erosion and torrent control activities that started towards the end of the 19^th century during the Habsburg Empire. Ljubljana, the small Slovenian capital with less than 300,000 inhabitants serves as an excellent point for organizers since the boutique meeting destination offers truly great experience, numerous facilities and services like big metropolis, combined with relaxed ambience. And the small city benefits can be seen also with the idyllic location of CD Congress Centre basically in the city centre, just a step away from exploring the city rich cultural, historic and culinary offer.