DNAS Study Group Seminar Series on Mar 19, 2026
Synergy Between Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change, and Health
Date and Time (China standard time): Thursday, Mar 19, 11:30am – 12:30pm
Location: IB 1012
Speaker:
Dr. Binbin Li
Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences, Duke Kunshan University
Abstract :
Although biodiversity conservation and development are often regarded as having a trade-off relationship, there are regions where they have co-benefits, where conservation through expanding protection and reducing deforestation can not only benefit biodiversity but also reduce climate change’s impacts on human society, including health risks. Dr. Li will introduce her work on how the high overlap between areas with biodiversity challenges, those experiencing increasing natural disasters under climate change, and those with high spill-over risks of zoonosis diseases indicate a more sustainable path of development for these regions. This is the key to implementing a post-2020 global biodiversity framework and mainstreaming biodiversity conservation. China is one of the most biodiverse countries and faces great challenges in balancing biodiversity conservation and development. Dr. Li will introduce how recent environmental policies have developed in China to protect biodiversity and their consequences for local livelihoods and endangered species conservation. An interdisciplinary approach has been used to promote sustainable livelihoods around protected areas to reduce human disturbances, such as livestock grazing, while engaging local communities in conservation through incentives.
Bio:
Dr. Binbin Li is the Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences at the Environmental Research Center at Duke Kunshan University. She holds a secondary appointment with the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. She focuses on the synergy between biodiversity conservation and sustainable development under climate change. Her research covers conservation planning to promote synergetic solutions to climate change mitigation and human health, One Health framework, endangered and endemic species conservation in China such as giant pandas, sustainable infrastructure building in the Belt and Road Initiative and bird collisions in urban environment. She promotes to use of innovative technology, market tools, citizen science, and policies to solve conservation problems and assist sustainable local community development.
Dr. Li has been awarded EC50 by Explorers Club, one of the world’s most inspiring explorers. She serves as the co-chair of IUCN WCPA-protected planet specialist group, and serves on the IUCN Species Survival Commission, World Commission on Protected Areas and the Commission on Prevention of Viral Spillover convened by Lancet and PPATS. She is the editor-in-chief of Integrative Conservation and associate editor of Frontiers of Ecology and Evolution. She also serves on the editorial board of Conservation Biology, Global Ecology and Conservation, Biodiversity Science and National Parks.
Dr. Li is engaged in science communication and nature education. She has been awarded nature photographer of the Year in the Chinese National Geography China Wildlife Image and Video Competition in 2022. She is the founder of the China Anti-bird Collision Action Alliance, the largest citizen science project in China. She is also the board director of SilverLining Conservation Center, which aims to increase the capacity of storytelling for conservation practitioners and to change public behaviors using media instruments.
Dr. Li got her PhD in Environment from Duke University (2017), M.S in Natural Resources and Environment from University of Michigan (2012). and B.S in Life Sciences with a dual degree in Economics from Peking University (2010).
