The outcomes of natural resource management are some of the most contentious issues in sustainability research. In particular, the Chinese experience in developing protected areas for both tourism and to meet environmental policy objectives illustrates many of the complexities within current sustainable development approaches elsewhere in the world. This research seeks to explore a case study of biodiversity protection and rural development within the context of the Jiuzhaigou Biosphere Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. Although Jiuzhaigou is often promoted as the success story of Chinese...