Aleš Smrekar is a researcher who specialises in  environmental protection and the relationships between humans, nature and the landscape. His research encompasses the study of environmental pollution, environmental awareness, the management of protected areas, the interpretation of natural and cultural heritage, and landscape evaluation. The author's focus is particularly on water as a natural resource, environmental degradation, stakeholder involvement in spatial management, and the question of how to promote a more responsible attitude towards nature in society. His most notable achievements include scientific publications on environmental protection in Slovenia, environmental degradation, wetlands, and heritage interpretation, as well as participation in international projects such as BIOMOT, WETNET, TUNE UP, SHAPETOURISM, HEPNESS, and TRANSDINARICA2. 

His recent research has focused on the development of approaches to the sustainable management of protected areas, environmental behaviour, and the effective interpretation of natural and cultural heritage. In addition, he has researched the importance of urban green spaces for human well-being and the mitigation of urban heat islands, as well as the potential of sustainable tourism for greater accessibility, spatial development, and heritage preservation.                                 

Education 
B.Sc. in Geography, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 1995
M.Sc.  in Geography, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 2000
Ph.D. in Geography, University of Primorska, Slovenia, 2005
 

• Smrekar, A., Polajnar Horvat K., Zorn, M. 2026: Mountain environment protection and protected mountain areas in Slovenia. Discourses on mountains of Montenegro and Slovenia.
• Smrekar, A., Tiran, J., Polajnar Horvat, D. 2024: Unveiling the cultural ecosystem services of urban green spaces : a case study of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Acta geographica Slovenica 64-3.
• Ernoul, L, Polajnar Horvat, K., Smrekar, A. et al. 2022: Use of voluntary environmental contracts for wetland governance in the European Mediterranean region. Marine & freshwater research 73-9,10.
• Polajnar Horvat, K., Gašperič, P., Leban, K., Tičar, J., Smrekar, A. 2022: Participatory approach to wetland governance : the case of the memorandum of understanding of the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park. Sustainability 14-16.
• Smrekar, A., Polajnar Horvat, K., Ribeiro, D. 2020: Slovenia's protected areas. The geography of Slovenia : small but diverse.
• Breg Valjavec, M., Janža, M., Smrekar, A. 2018: Environmental risk resulting from historical land degradation in alluvial plains considered for dam planning. Land degradation & development 29-11.
• Scopelliti, M., Polajnar Horvat, K., Smrekar, A. et al. 2018: What makes you a 'hero' for nature? : socio-psychological profiling of leaders committed to nature and biodiversity protection across seven EU countries. Journal of environmental planning and management 61-5,6.
• Smrekar, A. Polajnar Horvat, K., Erhartič, B. 2016: The beauty of landforms. Acta geographica Slovenica 56-2.
• Smrekar, A., Šmid Hribar, M., Tiran, J., Erhartič, B. 2016: A methodological basis for landscape interpretation : the case of the Ljubljana Marsh. Acta geographica Slovenica 56-2.
   

• Geography of Slovenia - national research programme (research programme • January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2027)
• BLUE - Restoring urban blue spaces through nature-based solutions and social interventions to improve human well being and environment (fundamental research project • January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2027)
• MultiPart: A Novel Approach for Improving Health and Well-being in Anthropogenically Perturbed Environments Based on Multi-Participatory Research (fundamental research project • January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2027)
• Transformation with Trans Dinarica - Phase 2 (April 1, 2025 - March 31, 2028)
• TUNE UP - Promoting multilevel governance for tuning up biodiversity protection in marine areas (INTERREG • November 1, 2019 - June 30, 2022)
• WETNET - Coordinated management and networking of Mediterranean wetlands (INTERREG • November 1, 2016 - April 30, 2019)
• SHAPETOURISM - New shape and drives for the tourism sector: supporting decision, integrating plans and ensuring sustainability (INTERREG • November 1, 2016 - February 28, 2018)
• BIOMOT - MOTivational strength of ecosystem services and alternative ways to express the value of BIOdiversity (international research project • September 1, 2011 - August 31, 2015)
• 2Bparks - Creative Sustainable Management, Territorially Compatible Marketing, and Environmental Education (INTERREG • July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2013)

• Postgraduate School ZRC SAZU, Asst. prof. in the doctoral program Comparative Study of Ideas and Cultures, study module Human Geography, and in the doctoral program Environmental and Regional Studies, study module Regional Studies.

• Silver Tablet of the Association of the Geographical Societies of Slovenia, 2022
• first place award for "The Interpretation polygon as a tool for understanding the cultural landscape", CLIC national contest for landscapes, category C – General public, 2014
• international award of European project 2Bparks for the integrated interpretation of the Iška river in Ljubljansko barje, the category »Places of Sense«, 2013
• bronze Tablet of the Association of the Geographical Societies of Slovenia, Association of the Geographical Societies of Slovenia, 2007
• special Trstenjak-Fellowship at the birth centenary of academician Prof. Dr. Anton Trstenjak for the doctoral thesis, dr. Anton Trstenjak Foundation, Ljubljana, 2006
• award of the Brest Pohištvo – Fund for masters research papers, Brest, Cerknica, 2002
• distinction of the Association of the Geographical Societies of Slovenia, Association of the Geographical Societies of Slovenia, 2000
• gold medal, Yugoslavian young researchers' meeting, Cetinje, Montenegro, 1986

• Member of the Acta geographica Slovenica scientific review editorial board
• Member of the editorial boards of the Georitem, Geografija Slovenije and the Regional development series
• President of the Association of Slovenian Geographers
• President of the Board of Directors of the Postgraduate School ZRC SAZU
• Member of the Environmental Protection Commission at the National Meeting of Young Researchers of Slovenia, Association for Technical Culture of Slovenia
• Member of the Steering committee of the biannual symposium “Slovenian regional days”
• Member of the Committe of the Infrastucture, Environment and Spatial Planning of the Regional Development Council of the Ljubljana Urban Region
• Head of the Department of Environmental Protection at the Anton Melik Geographical Institute of the ZRC SAZU (2007–2025)
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Postgraduate School ZRC SAZU (2014–2025)
• President of the Association of Slovenian Geographers (2018–2022)
• Member of the International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks scientific review editorial board (2014-2021)
• President of the Ecology Environmental Protection Commission at the National Meeting of Young Researchers of Slovenia, Association for Technical Culture of Slovenia (1999–2021)
• Member of statistical advisory committee of the statistic of natural resources and environment, Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (2005–2020)
• Member of the Science Council of the Anton Melik Geographical Institute ZRC SAZU (2012-2020)
• Executive member of the Commission on Geoparks, International Geographical Union (2014-2020)
• Vice-president of the Council of the Slovenian Museum of Natural History (2013–2017)
• President of the ZRC SAZU Scientific Counsil (2012-2016)
• Member of the Council for Sustainable development of the Government of the Republic of Slovenija (2010–2012)
• Vice-president of Ljubljana Geographical Society (2005–2007)
• President of the Ljubljana Geographical Society (2001–2005)
• Member of the Ljubljana Geographical Society board (1997–2000)