Climate scenarios suggest that current forest stands will face radically different temperature and precipitation conditions in the future. Developing future strategies for forest management in the face of uncertain and highly variable forecasts of future site conditions is a great challenge. Here we have analyzed transnational case studies dealing with different manifestations of climate change effects. We intend to stimulate the discussion on management strategies to adapt forests in the Alps to climate change risks. The presented results are derived from the INTERREG project "Management Strategies to Adapt Alpine Space Forests to Climate Change Risks" that was implemented within the framework of the European Territorial Cooperation "Alpine Space Programme" 2007-2013.

The assessment and prevention of risks inherent to natural phenomena is of topical interest to the scientific community and other authorities dealing with territorial management. Historical analysis carried out in the Piemonte-territory in north-western Italy, focusing on the consequences of hydrogeological risks, reveals that damage is continually increasing. This can partly be explained by the consistent expansion of urbanized areas at the expense of areas that are essential to the natural modelling processes of the region; the damage resulting from hydrogeological instability often being associated with incompatible territorial decisions. This text gives a detailed account of a series of experiences related to activities that ARPA Piemonte has carried out focusing on the cognitive and forecasting aspects related to risk assessment and alerting procedures.

This book brings together the latest thinking in Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and considers the key question of whether the processes are having a positive impact on strategic decision making, both in Europe and worldwide. As governments move to develop green agendas, the book explores the challenges of working within national systems, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of sector-specific SEA. The importance of stakeholder engagement is considered, as is the question of how to turn NIMBYs into WIMBYs – that is, creating positive reasons to encourage development and allow local stakeholders to profit. In assessing ways in which the practice of SEA can provide a new agenda for the 21st Century, the chapters explore current and emerging approaches, procedures and methods, along with ways in which SEA can be linked with other planning tools. The role of research and academia is considered, and the book looks beyond the current status of SEA to address the question of how practitioners can capitalise on the potential of SEA to become integrated into high-level policy as a key element of climate change mitigation strategies. Each chapter is written by internationally renowned authors and based on many years of experience in the field. The book will be essential reading for forward-thinking practitioners and students of SEA.

Knjiga Inovativne politike za alpska mesta predstavlja rezultate projekta CAPACities, v katerem smo preučevali vlogo mest v alpskem svetu. Pri tem smo se osredotočili na definicijo malih alpskih mest, njihovo vpetost v policentrični razvojni koncept, bistveni poudarek pa je bil na njihovi konkurenčnosti in privlačnosti. Teoretske podlage smo nadgradili z analizo razpoložljivih podatkov, še pomembnejše pa so bile aktivnosti v pilotnih območjih, s katerimi smo skušali ugotovitve prenašati v prakso. Predstavljene specifike pilotnih območij in tam izvedene aktivnosti so nam bile v pomoč pri izdelavi smernic in orodij za spodbujanje razvoja malih alpskih mest.

Protective forests are a key component to reduce natural hazard risks in mountain areas by preventing or decreasing the frequency, magnitude and/or intensity of snow avalanches, rockfall, landslides, floods, and debris flows. This book summarizes the state-of-the-art knowledge and introduces methods and decision support tools to facilitate the use of protective forests for Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) as part of an integrated risk management in the Alpine Space. Moreover, it highlights how translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions can only be achieved by an active and iterative exchange with practitioners and policy makers, and a common understanding of applied concepts and definitions. Only then can protective forests be managed sustainably under constantly changing climate and socio-economic conditions.

The first systematic cross-country analysis of snow-reliability of Alpine ski areas under climate change for five countries in the region: France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Germany.

The existence and persistence of regional disparities between European regions require context-tailored policies to promote structural change. This book explores the congruence between place-based development and regional competitiveness in the EU context. Drawing on a range of social science disciplines, this book unpicks the complexity of regional transformation processes, aiming to enhance the applicability and transferability of theoretical approaches to innovation and place-based regional development in diverse European territorial settings. The contributors have a particular focus on less-favoured regions and on the application of Smart Specialisation – a strategic approach to innovation-based regional development – to the issues at hand. The book comes at a critical moment, meeting the growing demand of academics, practitioners and policymakers with an interest in promoting regional economic growth and well-being.