Effects of land use transitions due to rapid urbanization on ecosystem services: Implications for urban planning in the new developing area of China

• Land use transitions due to rapid urbanization brought about negative effects on local ecological system.
• The ecosystem services value of Tianjin Binhai New Area has decreased substantially since the mid-1980s.
• It is fundamental to meet the demand for socio-economic development with minimum loss of regional ecosystem services function.
• Improved urban planning may ensure the building of an ecological livable new developing area.

With the rapid development of Chinese economy, many negative effects of land use transitions under the pressure of rapid urbanization on local ecological system and environment have occurred. This paper examines the dynamic patterns of land use in Tianjin Binhai New Area experienced rapid urbanization, using high-resolution Landsat TM (Thematic Mapper) data in 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2010, and socio-economic data from both research institutes and government departments, and assesses the changes of ecosystem services value (ESV) by drawing a connection between the observed land use dynamics and the evaluation of ESV, based on the latest research of Costanza et al. (2014) and some revisions adapted to the situation of China. The outcomes indicated that, during the period 1985–2010, ESV of the study area decreased by 25.9%, from 12,194 to 9037 billion RMB¥, due to the losses of large quantities of ecological land (e.g., farmland and water body) to construction land. Then, some of the major implications for improving the urban planning of Tianjin Binhai New Area were discussed. The authors argue that it is fundamental to meet the demand of construction land for socio-economic development, meanwhile protect regional ecosystem services function and maintain its stability; only in this way can the new developing area of China realize the sustainable use of ecological resources in the process of rapid urbanization, as well as the integration of economic, social and ecological benefits.