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Yu-Fai Leung
Associate Professor

Yu-Fai LeungContact Details

North Carolina State University
Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Jordan Hall 5107, Box 7106, Raleigh, NC 27697-7106

Phone: 919-513-3489
Fax: 919-515-3439
Leung@ncsu.edu

Website: http://myprofile.cos.com/leung

Education

  • B.S.Sc. (Hons.), Geography (Biology Minor), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1989
  • M.Phil., Geography, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992
  • Ph.D.  Forestry (Natural Resource Recreation), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), 1998

Specialty/Current Research Interests

  • Recreation ecology and visitor impact research
  • Developing visitor impact indicators and monitoring programs for protected areas
  • Planning and management of sustainable visitor use (outdoor recreation, ecotourism, geotourism) in protected areas and heritage sites
  • Environmental performance and sustainable practices of parks and recreation areas
  • International protected areas (esp. East Asia, Australia and North America)
  • Application of geospatial technologies and spatial analysis

Recent Courses Taught

  • PRT 505 GIS and Spatial Analysis in Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport Management (Graduate)
  • PRT 555 Environmental Impacts of Recreation and Tourism (Graduate)
  • PRT 451 Principles of Recreation Planning and Facility Development (Undergraduate)
  • PRT 562 Principles of Geographic Information Science (Graduate)

Selected Publications (Since 2004)

  • Siderelis, C., M. Naber and Y.-F. Leung. Resource measures and demand for recreation outings: A mountain biking case study. Journal of Leisure Research (forthcoming).
  • Lin, H.-C., Y.-F. Leung and S.-I. Hsu. Examining trail impacts and their management effectiveness in Yangmingshan National Park (in Chinese). Chinese Journal of Environmental Education (Taiwan) (in press).
  • Monz, C., D. N. Cole, Y.-F. Leung and J. L. Marion. Sustaining visitor use in protected areas: Future opportunities in recreation ecology research. Environmental Management (in press).
  • Pickering, C. P., W. Hill, D. Newsome and Y.-F. Leung. Comparing hiking, mountain biking and horse riding impacts on vegetation and soils in Australia and the U.S.A., Journal of Environmental Management (in press).
  • Supak, S., Y.-F. Leung and K. Stewart. Geotourism potential in North Carolina: perspectives from interpretation at state parks. In: Dowling, R. and D. Newsome, D. (eds.) Geotourism: The Tourism of Geology and Landscape. London, UK: Goodfellow Publishers (in press).
  • Dorwart, C., R. L. Moore and Y.-F. Leung. 2010. Visitors’ perceptions of a trail environment and their effects on experiences: A model for nature-based recreation experiences. Leisure Sciences 32(1).
  • Hockett, K. S., A. Clark, Y.-F. Leung, J. L. Marion and L. L. Park. 2009. Deterring Off-Trail Hiking in Protected Natural Areas: Evaluating Options With Surveys and Unobtrusive Observations. Technical Report. Blacksburg, VA: USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Virginia Tech Field Unit.
  • Tien, S.-H., Y.-F. Leung and D.-J. Lu. 2009 Developing a quality evaluation tool for monitoring protocols of natural recreation areas (in Chinese). Quarterly Journal of Chinese Forestry 42(3): 457-464
  • Leung, Y.-F., J. L. Marion and T. Farrell. 2008. Recreation ecology in sustainable tourism and ecotourism: a strengthening role. In: McCool, S. F. and R. Moisey (eds.), Tourism, Recreation and Sustainability: Linking Culture and the Environment (2nd Ed.). Wallingford, UK: CABI Publishing, pp. 19-37.
  • Clark, A. and Y.-F. Leung. 2007. Getting out, going green: Outdoor recreation is linked to pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. Parks and Recreation 42(8): 26-31.
  • Kline, C., D. Cardenas, Y.-F. Leung and S. Sanders. 2007. Sustainable farm tourism: Understanding and managing environmental impacts of visitor activities. Journal of Extension 45(2).
  • Leung, Y.-F. and C. Monz. 2006. Visitor impact monitoring: Old issues, new challenges, George Wright Forum 23(2): 7-10.
  • Leung, Y.-F., L. M. Marafa, and K. C. Chau. 2006. Embracing or overstretching the concept of urban ecotourism: The case of Hong Kong. In C. Y. Jim and R. T. Corlett (eds.), Sustainable Management of Protected Areas for Future Generations. Hong Kong: Friends of Country Parks and Gland, Switzerland: IUCN World Conservation Union, pp. 389-400.
  • Marion, J., Y.-F. Leung, and S. Nepal. 2006. Monitoring trail conditions: new methodological considerations. George Wright Forum 23(2): 36-49.
  • Naber, M. D. and Y.-F. Leung. 2006. Technology lends a helping hand: Recreation managers are learning the benefits of using geospatial technologies in resource management. Parks and Recreation 41(7): 24-30.
  • Manning, R. E., Y.-F. Leung and M. Budruk. 2005. Research to support management of visitor carrying capacity on Boston Harbor Islands. Northeastern Naturalist 12(SI-3): 201-220.
  • Leung, Y.-F. and J. L. Marion. 2004. Management impacts of camping. In: Buckley, R. (ed.), Environmental Impacts of Ecotourism. Wallingford, UK: CABI Publishing, pp. 245-258.

Selected Presentations (Since 2006)

  • October 2009 Lu, D.-J., Y.-F. Leung and H.-T. Hsieh. Community-based Trail Monitoring Scheme - A Case Study of Shih-pan Trail in Linmei. Paper presented at the 2009 International Conference on GIS in the Humanities and Social Sciences; Taipei, Taiwan ROC.
  • July 2009 Hsu, Y.-C., Y.-F. Leung, and C.-C. Lue. Eastern harmony? Applying the VERP framework to Yu Shan National Park, Taiwan. Paper presented at the 15th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management; Vienna, Austria.
  • March 2009 Leung Y.-F. and C. Pickering. Classifying approaches to visitor impact assessment in U.S. and Australian protected areas. Paper presented at the 2009 George Wright Society Biennial Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites; Portland, OR.
  • March 2009 Newburger T., Y.-F. Leung, B. Meldrum, M. J. Messick, and.B. Woiderski. Assessing and monitoring habitat fragmentation from informal trail networks in Yosemite meadows. Poster presented at the 2009 George Wright Society Biennial Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites; Portland, OR.
  • February 2009 Leung Y.-F., D. Maddalena, E. Hain, R. S. Ting, and K. Stewart. Learning natural resources and geology through GIS/GPS: Highlights of a middle school program in Wake County. Poster presented at the 2009 NC GIS Conference; Raleigh, NC.
  • November 2008 Leung, Y.-F. Research foundations of the VERP framework: a synopsis. Keynote presentation at the Symposium on Recreational Use and Resource Protection in National Parks; Hualien, Taiwan ROC.
  • October 2008 Leung, Y.-F., Y.-C. Hsu, C.-C. Lue, and D.-J. Lu. Does recreation ecology have a place in East Asia? Some insights from Taiwan. Paper Presented at the 4th International Conference on Monitoring and Management of Visitor Flows in Recreational and Protected Areas; Monticatini Terme, Italy.
  • June 2008 Naber, M., Y.-F. Leung, A. Attarian, and C. Siderelis. Integrating trail condition assessment with recreation demand modeling of mountain bikers. Paper presented at 14th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management; Burlington, VT.
  • February 2008 Clark., A., Y.-F. Leung, J. L. Marion, and K. Hockett. Exploring the influence of place attachment and experience use history on visitors’ attitudes and self-reported off-trail walking behavior. Paper presented at 30th Southeastern Recreation Research Conference; Savannah, GA.
  • April 2007 Seher, V. and Y.-F. Leung. Keeping wildlife wild: Addressing human-wildlife interactions in Yosemite National Park. Paper presented at the 2007 George Wright Society Conference; St. Paul, MN.
  • April 2007 Leung, Y.-F. Using indices to characterize impacts of informal trails: review and research agenda. Paper presented at the 2007 George Wright Society Conference; April 16-20, 2007; St. Paul, MN.
  • October 2006 Dorwart, C., Y.-F. Leung, and R. Moore. "Appreciation of the small details": Using visitor employed photography to evaluate visitor perceptions of trail environment and their effects on experiences. Paper presented at the 2006 NRPA Leisure Research Symposium; Seattle, WA.
  • September 2006 Leung, Y.-F. Recreation ecology in East Asia: Redefining impacts? Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Monitoring and Management of Visitor Flows in Recreational and Protected Areas; Rapperswil, Switzerland.
  • September 2006 Robinson, J. and Y.-F. Leung. Visitor use and impact monitoring: An adaptive design model. Poster presented at the 3rd International Conference on Monitoring and Management of Visitor Flows in Recreational and Protected Areas; Rapperswil, Switzerland.
  • June 2006 Bacon, J., Y.-F. Leung and P. Newman. Integrated and adaptive management: putting carrying capacity frameworks into practice in Yosemite National Park USA. Paper presented the 11th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management; Vancouver, BC, Canada.
  • May 2006 Leung, Y.-F. Recreation ecology: What is it? How can it help recreation resource planners and managers? Paper and field workshop presented at the 26th Annual Conference of National Association of Recreation Resource Planners; Nashville, TN.

Selected Grants/Projects

  • 2007 – Present, Managing off-trail hiking in the Potomac Gorge (co-P.I., USDI National Park Service)
  • 2007 – Present, Annual Survey of State Park Operations (P.I., National Association of State Park Directors)
  • 2007 – Present, Geoscience in Middle Schools (co-P.I., Burrough Wellcome Fund)
  • 2004 – 2009, Developing monitoring protocols for the User Capacity Management Program in Yosemite National Park (P.I., USDI National Park Service)
  • 2003 – 2006, Developing Vital Signs monitoring protocols for coastal national park units in the Northeast (co-P.I., USDI National Park Service)
  • 2000 – 2004, Research support to the implementation of Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) Framework in Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (P.I., USDI National Park Service)
  • 2000 – 2002, Effectiveness evaluation of the national Leave No Trace (LNT) outdoor skills and ethics program (P.I., Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics)

University/Professional Service

  • 2009 – Present, Chair, PRTM Graduate Programs Advisory Committee
  • 2009 – Present, President-elect, Eta (NCSU) Chapter of Sigma Iota Rho Honor Society for International Studies
  • 2009 – Present, Member, University Standing Committee on International Programs
  • 2008 – Present, Member, Faculty Advisory Board, NCSU Confucius Institute
  • 2006 – Present, Associate Editor, International Journal of Wilderness
  • 2005 – Present, Associate Editor, Journal of Park and Recreation Administration
  • 2005 – Present, Founding Member, Recreation Ecology Research Network
  • 2003 – Present, Invited Member, IUCN-World Conservation Union, World Commission on Protected Areas

 

Honors/Awards

  • 2006, Outstanding Teacher Award, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NCSU
  • 2003, Inducted into Sigma Iota Rho Honor Society for International Studies
  • 2000, Inducted into Rho Phil Lambda Honor Society for Recreation, Park and Leisure Studies
  • 1997, A. B. Massey Outstanding Graduate Student Award, College of Forestry and Wildlife Resources, Virginia Tech
  • 1995, Certification of Appreciation, USDA Forest Service
  • 1995, Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society

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Complete Curriculum Vita