China has high biodiversity and is rapidly urbanizing. However, there is limited understanding of how urban expansion in the country is likely to affect its habitats and biodiversity. In this study, we examine urban expansion patterns and their likely impacts on biodiversity in China by 2030. Our analysis shows that most provinces are expected to experience urban expansion either near their protected areas or in biodiversity hotspots. In a few provinces such as Guangdong in the south, urban expansion is likely to impinge on both protected areas and biodiversity hotspots. We show that policies that could facilitate the integration of natural resource protection into urban planning exist on paper, but the prevailing incentives and institutional arrangements between the central and local governments prevent this kind of integration. Removing these obstacles will be necessary in order to safeguard the country's rich biodiversity in light of the scale of urbanization underway.

What role do professional planners play in a rapidly urbanizing China? Previous studies have looked in general at planning in China, but specific examples of planners' work have been limited. We highlight three examples of planning-in-action that reveal the range of roles planners play in relation to local governments. In particular, we identify three ways Chinese planners provide input into the development process: negotiating for a middle ground between their opinions and the priorities of officials, providing technical analysis that can both inform and legitimize government decisions, and deliberately advocating for a position in the face of a conflicting agenda.