Ecological footprint of Ebinur Lake region based on emergy analysis theory

Based on the conventional ecological footprint model,we used a modified ecological footprint which based on emergy analysis to calculate the ecological footprint and ecological capacity of Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture,and evaluated the development sustainability. Compared with conventional ecological footprint model,the parameters including emergy transformation rate and emergy density adopted by the new model were more stable. Through translating all the natural resources into solar emergy,the modified ecological footprint which based on emergy analysis could reflect regional character better. By using the modified model,the ecological footprint of Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in 2007 was 6. 948 hm2,ecological capacity was 0. 837 hm2,and ecological deficit was 6. 111 hm2. The result was the same with the conventional ecological footprint model: the ecological footprint greatly exceeded its ecological capacity,and the research area is ecologically unsustainable.