Xiaodong Chen
Assistant Professor
Department of Geography and Curriculum for the Environment & Ecology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Saunders Hall, CB# 3220, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Email: chenxd@email.unc.edu
Information for Prospective Graduate Students
Research Interests
My research interests focus on Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CHANS). General research topics include how human activities affect the natural environment, how human livelihood may be changed due to changes in environmental conditions, what are complex interactions among components in human and natural systems, and how human-environment interactions are influenced by policies. Approaches for these studies include field measures and household surveys, spatial analysis of remote sensing and geo-spatial data, statistical analysis, and complex systems modeling (e.g., agent-based modeling).
Recent Publications
Chen, X. D., K. A. Frank, T. Dietz, and J. G. Liu. 2012. Weak ties, labor migration, and environmental impacts: Toward a sociology of sustainability. Organization & Environment 25 (1):3-24.
Chen, X. D., F. Lupi, L. An, R. Sheely, A. Vina, and J. G. Liu. 2012. Agent-based modeling of the effects of social norms on enrollment in payments for ecosystem services. Ecological Modelling 229:16-24.
Hull, V., W. H. Xu, W. Liu, S. Q. Zhou, A. Vina, J. D. Zhang, M. N. Tuanmu, J. Y. Huang, M. Linderman, X. D. Chen, Y. Huang, Z. Y. Ouyang, H. M. Zhang, and J. G. Liu. 2011. Evaluating the efficacy of zoning designations for protected area management. Biological Conservation 144 (12):3028-3037.
Chen, X. D., M. N. Peterson, V. Hull, C. T. Lu, G. D. Lee, D. Y. Hong, and J. G. Liu. 2011. Effects of attitudinal and sociodemographic factors on pro-environmental behaviour in urban China. Environmental Conservation 38:45-52.
Viņa, A., X. D. Chen, W. J. McConnell, W. Liu, W. H. Xu, Z. Y. Ouyang, H. M. Zhang, and J. G. Liu. 2011. Effects of Natural Disasters on Conservation Policies: The Case of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, China. Ambio 40:274-284.
Chen, X. D., F. Lupi, A. Vina, G. M. He, and J. G. Liu. 2010. Using cost-effective targeting to enhance the efficiency of conservation investments in payments for ecosystem services. Conservation Biology 24:1469-1478.
Chen, X. D., F. Lupi, G. M. He, and J. G. Liu. 2009. Linking social norms to efficient conservation investment in payments for ecosystem services. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106:11812-11817.
Chen, X. D., F. Lupi, G. M. He, Z. Y. Ouyang, and J. G. Liu. 2009. Factors affecting land reconversion plans following a payment for ecosystem service program. Biological Conservation 142:1740-1747.
He, G. M., X. D. Chen, S. Beaer, M. Colunga, A. Mertig, L. An, S. Q. Zhou, M. Linderman, Z. Ouyang, S. Gage, S. X. Li, and J. G. Liu. 2009. Spatial and temporal patterns of fuelwood collection in Wolong Nature Reserve: Implications for panda conservation. Landscape and Urban Planning 92:1-9.
Liu, J. G., S. X. Li, Z. Y. Ouyang, C. Tam, and X. D. Chen. 2008. Ecological and socioeconomic effects of China's policies for ecosystem services. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105:9477-9482.
He, G. M., X. D. Chen, W. Liu, S. Bearer, S. Q. Zhou, L. Y. Q. Cheng, H. M. Zhang, Z. Y. Ouyang, and J. G. Liu. 2008. Distribution of Economic Benefits from Ecotourism: A Case Study of Wolong Nature Reserve for Giant Pandas in China. Environmental Management 42:1017-1025.
Peterson, M. N., X. D. Chen, and J. G. Liu. 2008. Household location choices: Implications for biodiversity conservation. Conservation Biology 22:912-921.