How Can Macro-Scale Land-Use Policies Be Integrated with Local-Scale Urban Growth? Exploring Trade-Offs for Sustainable Urbanization in Xi’an, China

Rapid urbanization results in farmland loss, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity decrease, and greenhouse gas emissions. Land-use policies planning as administrative means are used to guide sustainable urban development balance the location of expansion agricultural activities. To better understand future implications a variety land-use policies, we FUTURES model scenario analysis analyze potential patterns areas loss fragmentation natural resources at local level for Xi’an. We tested representative indicators according Plan 2014–2020. found that scenarios representing integration several showed both synergetic spatial conflicting outcomes. The simulated growth resulting from combination were most likely support progress toward livable compact city resources’ conservation. These findings underscore importance simulation modeling analyses quantify visualize urbanization. Specifically, they show value integrating information across scales, i.e., combining macro-level with local-level heterogeneity socio-ecological settings, identifying actionable solutions. Hence, these research provide scientific policy revision implementation Xi’an, well reference point other urbanizing cities China.