ABSTRACT
In course of a recent professional assignment, the authors have had the opportunity to review practices used in various parts of the world to manage landslide risks. The review was particularly, but not exclusively, focused on non-eruption volcanic landslides. The review revealed wide differences between the current scientific understanding of risk acceptance and actual applications in practical circumstances. There is also a fundamental difference between risk management connected with industrial and construction activities and that applied to natural landslide hazards. Landslide risk acceptability criteria are strongly influenced by utilitarian considerations. In many examples, surprisingly high levels of risk tolerance are applied for landslides. The process of setting the risk levels requires wide dialog and consensus between specialists, government decision makers and the public. To facilitate this consensus, clear and transparent communication between specialists and lay stakeholders is essential. High complexity of risk assessment methods often presents a hindrance to the required communication.
