Pandas and People

A groundbreaking synthesis of two decades of interdisciplinary research reveals complex interactions between the giant panda, a global conservation icon, and local communities within the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries. The study, conducted across Wolong Nature Reserve and adjacent regions, demonstrates how coupled human and natural systems evolve through socioeconomic activities like farming, forest harvesting, and tourism. By integrating extensive socioeconomic and biophysical data, the research introduces novel methods to understand patterns of system dynamics, contributing significantly to theories on complexity, social norms, and sustainability. Findings from this model coupled system offer actionable insights for natural resource management, with implications extending beyond Wolong to global biodiversity hotspots.

Liu, J., Hull, V., Yang, W., Viña, A., Chen, X., Ouyang, Z., & Zhang, H. (Eds.). (2016). Pandas and People. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198703549.001.0001