Mateja Breg Valjavec is a geographer and senior research associate at the Anton Melik Geographical Institute of the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU), where she heads the Department of Geoinformatics. She holds a PhD in karstology, which is why she pays special attention to karst, dolines, and karst geodiversity. She is an expert in the field of geoinformation methods and remote sensing. She leads numerous research and application projects and research groups, organises domestic and international meetings and collaborations, and links basic research with practical geoinformation solutions and the transfer of knowledge to the wider public. Her work is marked by leadership experience, international involvement, and high-profile publications in prestigious scientific journals.
Mateja Breg Valjavec is a geographer who researches environmental degradation (natural and anthropogenic) and the multifaceted consequences of this degradation in the physical-geographical elements of the landscape. Her research combines the fields of environmental and physical geography: how natural relief features influence vegetation patterns, how vegetation adapts to abiotic factors, climate change, anthropogenic and natural degradation. Using a combination of geoinformation methods, remote sensing, and bioindication methods in the field, she identifies patterns and regularities in the relationship between geo and biodiversity. She focuses on the degradation and nature conservation role of sinkholes and karst landscapes in the context of climate change adaptation.
Among her most important achievements are publications in leading journals in the field of environmental protection and degradation, where she has published numerous original scientific articles. She received the ARIS Award for Excellence in Science for 2023 for an original scientific article in the journal Catena. She led a fundamental research project on determining the connection between sinkholes and caves from the perspective of anthropogenic influences.
Her goal is to introduce innovative geoinformation methods into interdisciplinary research on karst landscapes, monitor environmental links between geo and biodiversity, and determine the resilience and adaptability of karst ecosystems to climate change.
- 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.
Graphical summary of the article awarded the Excellent in Science award:
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.
- 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, 2022 - December 31, 2027)
- The Life and Death of Cultivated Terraces: Computer-Based Recognition and Spatial Analysis of Terraces (applied research project • January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2027)
- Assistant profesor Postgraduate School ZRC SAZU
- Assistant profesor University of Novo mesto
- 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)
- Head of the Department of Geoinformatics
- 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–)