ABSTRACT
Continued rapid urban development in California has placed ever greater strains on the natural environment. In response, conventional methods of urban planning, development regulation and environmental review are being supplemented by new approaches that focus on large-scale natural systems rather than local jurisdictional boundaries or individual projects. These approaches are being applied in the areas of habitat conservation, water resources, air quality, and now climate change. More recently, regional and local governments have begun to use comprehensive plans to address environmental systems’ needs in the overall context of sustainable development. 1
