Understanding the complex relationships between humans and the natural world is essential for achieving environmental sustainability and improving human well-being, yet many studies are unable to reveal complex interactions and hidden trends. This is the first book to synthesize the findings and approaches of long-term integrated research in a model coupled human and natural system, and to illustrate their applications to regional, national, and global scales. It features a classic long-term interdisciplinary research project in the Wolong Nature Reserve of China, which contains one of the largest wild populations of the world-famous endangered giant pandas. Bringing together a team of contributors from both the natural and social sciences, this book explores how a long-term interdisciplinary and model system approach is essential to uncover the common patterns and mechanisms of coupled systems, to develop ideas and methods for studying and managing other coupled systems, and ultimately to contribute to the development of theories about coupled systems for sustainability. Pandas and People will be essential reading for scholars interested in the interface of the natural and social sciences, including ecologists, conservation biologists, environmental scientists, sustainability scientists, wildlife biologists, forest scientists, sociologists, anthropologists, economists, and political scientists. It will also be a valuable reference for policy makers, natural resource managers, and graduate students.

Understanding the complex relationships between humans and the natural world is essential for achieving environmental sustainability and improving human well-being, yet many studies are unable to reveal complex interactions and hidden trends. This is the first book to synthesize the findings and approaches of long-term integrated research in a model coupled human and natural system, and to illustrate their applications to regional, national, and global scales. It features a classic long-term interdisciplinary research project in the Wolong Nature Reserve of China, which contains one of the largest wild populations of the world-famous endangered giant pandas. Bringing together a team of contributors from both the natural and social sciences, this book explores how a long-term interdisciplinary and model system approach is essential to uncover the common patterns and mechanisms of coupled systems, to develop ideas and methods for studying and managing other coupled systems, and ultimately to contribute to the development of theories about coupled systems for sustainability. Pandas and People will be essential reading for scholars interested in the interface of the natural and social sciences, including ecologists, conservation biologists, environmental scientists, sustainability scientists, wildlife biologists, forest scientists, sociologists, anthropologists, economists, and political scientists. It will also be a valuable reference for policy makers, natural resource managers, and graduate students.

The giant panda is one of the world's most recognized animals. With the environment undergoing unprecedented change at a rapid and accelerating rate, can such a highly specialized species survive? This 2006 book summarizes panda biology and encompasses topics such as reproduction, behaviour, nutrition, genetics and veterinary medicine. It also provides information on veterinary management, advances in neonatal care, disease detection and prevention and the use of 'assisted breeding' to promote reproduction and preserve genetic diversity, as the females are sexually receptive for only 3 days per year and generally produce twins, but often lose one due to maternal neglect. This book provides the scholarly knowledge that will help conserve this treasured species in nature, while there is still time.

The giant panda is one of the world's most recognized animals. With the environment undergoing unprecedented change at a rapid and accelerating rate, can such a highly specialized species survive? This 2006 book summarizes panda biology and encompasses topics such as reproduction, behaviour, nutrition, genetics and veterinary medicine. It also provides information on veterinary management, advances in neonatal care, disease detection and prevention and the use of 'assisted breeding' to promote reproduction and preserve genetic diversity, as the females are sexually receptive for only 3 days per year and generally produce twins, but often lose one due to maternal neglect. This book provides the scholarly knowledge that will help conserve this treasured species in nature, while there is still time.