Prof. Xianli Xu is a researcher and Doctoral supervisor, Director of the Department of Science and Technology Management and Planning at the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. On Feb 6, 2026, he visited IAPME for the IAPME Seminar Series and gave a presentation entitled “Cascade Relationships Among Karst Critical Zone Structure, Hydrological Processes and Ecological Functions and Their Implications for Ecological Restoration”. The seminar was hosted and invited by Prof. Guoxing Sun.
Prof. Xianli Xu has long been dedicated to research in eco-hydrology, soil and water conservation, landscape ecology and ecological restoration. He received the First Prize of the Science and Technology Award of the Chinese Society of Soil and Water Conservation (first rank). He was awarded the Zhu Li Yuehua Outstanding Teacher Award and the Excellent Postgraduate Supervisor title. He is a recipient of the State Council Special Allowance, and has been selected for the CAS Talent Program and Hunan Leading Talent in Science and Technology Innovation.
In his speech, focuses on the cascade relationship between the structure, hydrological processes, and ecological functions of the karst critical zone as well as ecological restoration. It introduces the platforms and achievements of the affiliated research institute, elaborates on the “point-line-network-basin” research framework, five research project plans, and 2025 annual progress centering on the ecological protection and restoration project of expressway networks in extreme environments, reveals relevant mechanisms, and proposes restoration paths, providing support for ecological protection in karst areas and transportation networks.
The seminar provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the latest advancements in ecological hydrology, soil and water conservation, landscape ecology, and ecological restoration research. Prof. Xu has undertaken over 10 projects and published more than 100 papers in academic journals.
