Mateja Breg Valjavec, PhD
+386 1 4706 541
+386 1 425 52 53
mateja.breg@zrc-sazu.si
Research interests
Education
B. Sc. in Geography, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 2005
Ph. D. in Karstology, Graduate school, University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia
Research fields
- physical geography, geomorphology, karst, dolines, sediments, vegetation
- land degradation, human impacts, protection of karst, bioindication
- geoinformatics, GIS, remote sensing, Lidar, digital terrain model, electrical resistivity tomography
- geodiversity, geoheritage, geotourism
Other activities
- Head of the Scientific Committee; Symposium on Geographical Information Systems in Slovenia (2022–)
- Member of Editorial Board, Acta Geographica Slovenica (2019)
- Member of Editorial Board, Geography of Slovenia Book Series (2013 –)
- Deputy Member of the Statistical advisory committee of the statistic of natural resources and environment, Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (2008 –)
- Member of the International Scientific Committee; European SCGIS Conference 2016
- Member of the International Scientific Committee; Natural Hazards 2018
- Member of the national board of Geomorphological Society of Slovenia (2019–)
Presentations:
- Bioindication of human-induced land degradation in potential karstic microrefugia. Plenary lecture: IGU thematic conference, Koper 2019.
- Karst depressions : geoheritage hotspots on karst surface. Karst hydrogeology - research trends and applications. 27th International Karstological School "Classical Karst", Postojna 2019.
- Recognising karst geodiversity using LIDAR data : case study of doline. Naučni skup 125 godina od publikovanja monografije Das Karstphänomen Jovana Cvijića. Beograd 2018.
- Interpretation model of karst geoheritage in Dinaric Karst. Geotrends. Wrocław 2017.
- Changing river courses and national borders. Geobalcancia Conference, Skopje 2017.
- Modeling of habitat types in karst landscape with high resolution satellite imagery and digital terrain model. 36th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, Berlin 2015.
- Applicability of historical aerial photographs in landscape change studies on Isonzo Front. (Re)discovering the Great War : multidisciplinary research of modern conflicts : Ljubljana - Kobarid 2015.
- Detection of filled dolines by 3D surface modelling. Karst forms and processes, 20th International Karstological School "Classical Karst", Postojna 2012.
Selected publications
- Breg Valjavec, M., Čarni, A., Žlindra, D., Zorn, M., Marinšek, A. 2022: Soil organic carbon stock capacity in karst dolines under different land uses. Catena 218.
- Breg Valjavec, M., Dunato Pejnović, N., Draženović, M., Čonč, Š., Polajnar Horvat, K., 2022: The transboundary approach to landscape geointerpretation : challenges in interpretive planning and geoconservation. Geoheritage 14/4,
- Čarni, A., Čonč, Š., Breg Valjavec, M., 2022. Landform-vegetation units in karstic depressions (dolines) evaluated by indicator plant species and Ellenberg indicator values. Ecological indicators 135.
- Čonč, Š., Oliveira, T., Belotti, E., Bufka, L., Černe, R., Heurich, M., Breg Valjavec, M., Krofel, M., 2024: Revealing functional responses in habitat selection of rocky features and rugged terrain by Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) using LiDAR data. Landscape ecology 39.
- Čahojová, L., Breg Valjavec, M. Jakob, A, , Čarni, A. Response of vulnerable karst forest ecosystems under different fire severities in the Northern Dinaric Karst mountains (Slovenia). Fire ecology 20.
- Breg Valjavec, M., Zorn, M., Čarni, A., 2018: Bioindication of human-induced soil degradation in enclosed karst depressions (dolines) using Ellenberg indicator values (Classical Karst, Slovenia). Science of the total environment 640/641.
- Breg Valjavec, M., 2014: Study of filled dolines by using 3D stereo image processing and electrical resistivity imaging. International journal of speleology 43. Florida.
- Breg Valjavec, M., 2012: Geoinformatic methods for the detection of former waste disposal sites in karstic and nonkarstic regions : (case study of dolines and gravel pits): dissertation. Nova Gorica.
Selected projects
Connectivity concept in karst: the doline-cave coupling in the context of human impacts (September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2023)
Integrative crossborder conservation of Natura 2000 plant species and their habitats (INTERREG • April 1, 2024 - September 30, 2026)
Innovative ecosystem-based plan to adapt to climate change in the Karst. Promoting Fire-resilient forestry supported by Industry 5.0 (INTERREG • April 15, 2024 - April 14, 2026)
Preservation and valorisation of the natural and cultural heritage and development of sustainable tourism in the cross-boarder carst landscape (INTERREG • September 1, 2017 - February 29, 2020)
INCOME - Improved management of contaminated aquifers by integration of source tracking, monitoring tools and decision strategies (applied project • January 1, 2009 - June 30, 2012)
Remote sensing of landfills (postdoctoral research project • October 1, 2013 - June 30, 2015)
Geography of Slovenia - national research programme (research programme • January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2021)
Integrative crossborder conservation of Natura 2000 plant species and their habitats (INTERREG • April 1, 2024 - September 30, 2026)
Innovative ecosystem-based plan to adapt to climate change in the Karst. Promoting Fire-resilient forestry supported by Industry 5.0 (INTERREG • April 15, 2024 - April 14, 2026)
Preservation and valorisation of the natural and cultural heritage and development of sustainable tourism in the cross-boarder carst landscape (INTERREG • September 1, 2017 - February 29, 2020)
INCOME - Improved management of contaminated aquifers by integration of source tracking, monitoring tools and decision strategies (applied project • January 1, 2009 - June 30, 2012)
Remote sensing of landfills (postdoctoral research project • October 1, 2013 - June 30, 2015)
Geography of Slovenia - national research programme (research programme • January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2021)
Other
Awards and recognitions
- Award »Exellent in Science 2023« (Slovenian Research And Innovation Agency)
- Award "Excellent trainee" (International UNESCO Centre for Karst Research,Guilin, China, 2018).of UNESCO, Guilin, China, November 2018)
- Melik Award for young scientist (Slovenian Association of Geographers, 2015)