Nature-Positive: Integrating Ecosystem Resilience into Urban Development

Dr. Lu Zhi is a Boya Distinguished Professor at Peking University. She founded Peking University’s Center for Nature and Society, and Shan Shui Conservation Center. She also serves as the co-chair of the second global assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Dr. Lu’s research tackles critical sustainability issues in China, with a focus on finding practical solutions that promote coexistence between humans and nature. Her work encompasses the study of ecosystem services (forests and grasslands), the natural history and conservation of endangered species like giant pandas and snow leopards, and the development of community-led conservation strategies. She is particularly known for her innovative approach, which tests and implements conservation tools grounded in economic incentives, cultural values, and policy improvements, ensuring that local communities benefit from their conservation efforts. This work extends to both rural and urban settings.

Dr. Lu Zhi earned her undergraduate degree and Ph.D. from Peking University. She has been a visiting scholar at the National Institutes of Health , Harvard University and the Yale School of Forest and Environmental Studies (2001-2002).