Landslide Science for Sustainable Development - Proceedings of the 6th World Landslide Forum. Florence Italy, 14-17 November 2023 Abstract book

The 6th World Landslide Forum was held in Florence from November 14 and 17, 2023. The World Landslide Forums are organized every three years to bring together scientists, engineers, practitioners, businesses, and policy makers, from around the world to share progress on landslide risk reduction on a global scale. The 6th World Landslide Forum is jointly organized by the International Consortium on Landslides and the UNESCO Chair on Prevention and Sustainable Management of Geo-hydrological Hazards at the University of Florence, under the International Programme on Landslides (IPL) supported by five United Nations’ organizations (UNESCO, WMO, FAO, UNDRR, UNU) and four international scientific organizations (ISC, WFEO, IUGS e IUGG). The 6th World Landslide Forum was awarded the Medal of the President of the Italian Republic, which is given to events of great scientific and cultural importance. More than 1100 participants from more than 60 countries attended the general plenary sessions, parallel scientific sessions, technical exhibitions, workshops and other side events during the four days of the Forum. The Forum is entitled Landslide Science for Sustainable Development and contributes to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, through the Kyoto Commitment for Landslide Risk Reduction which was signed by 90 institutions in 2020. The aim of the Forum is to create a common platform to promote cooperation between all stakeholders involved in landslide risk reduction. This objective is particularly important considering that the Forum is taking place on the 60th anniversary of the Vajont landslide, the largest landslide disaster in Italy, which claimed more than 1900 lives. The city of Florence was the cradle of the Renaissance of Arts and Science and is still today a cutting-edge city of science, culture, hospitality, and beauty. Florence has also been hit by severe natural disasters in the past, such as floods and landslides, which have caused enormous damage to its artistic and cultural heritage. We therefore consider Florence an ideal place to discuss the latest advances in research, technology, and policies for risk mitigation. The General Conference on Landslide Risk Reduction, at the Opening Plenary Session on November 14, addressed the latest strategies of the landslide community to help achieve the global targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The High-Level Panel Discussion on the same day adopted the Florence Declaration on Landslide Risk Reduction, to share information and best practices, support research and development of new technologies, and build capacity at all levels to improve landslide preparedness and response. Scientific plenary lectures were given by renowned scientists from four continents: Prof. Giovanni Battista Crosta from the University of Milan Bicocca, Prof. Xuanmei Fan from Chengdu University of Technology in China, Dr. Jonathan Godt from the United States Geological Survey and Prof. Olivier Dewitte from the Royal Museum for Central Africa. The scientific program includes six main themes: 1. Kyoto Landslide commitment for sustainable development 2. Remote sensing, monitoring and early warning 3. Testing, modeling and mitigation techniques 4. Mapping, hazard, risk assessment and management 5. Climate change, extreme weather conditions, earthquakes and landslides 6. Progress in landslide science and applications In the following days there were 47 parallel scientific sessions, with 853 scientific contributions, including 643 oral presentation and 210 posters. In the Closing Plenary Session on November 17 the baton was passed to the 7th World Landslide Forum which will take place in Taipei in 2026. We would like to thank all those who have contributed to the organization of the Forum over the past three years: especially the scientific committee, organizing committee, supporting organizations, partners, bodies that granted the patronage, and sponsors, for their contribution and strong commitment to the success of the 6th World Landslide Forum.