Study on Sustainable Ecological and Economic Development in County-scale Regions Based on Ecological Footprint Theory ——A Case Study in Xiji County,Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

Ecological footprint is a biophysical methodology to evaluate regional sustainable development based on biological productive area.This paper analyzes the change of ecological footprint in Xiji County,Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region during the period from 1978 to 2003.The results show that the per capita ecological footprint in the county was gradually increased from 0.190 5 hm~2 in 1978 to 0.442 5 hm~2 in 2003,whereas the per capita ecological carrying capacity was decreased from 0.304 4 hm~2 to 0.204 7 hm~2 during the same period,and the per capita ecological footprint and the per capita ecological carrying capacity trended towards the opposite directions in the county.The ecological surplus in the county was 0.113 9 hm~2 in 1978,but the ecological deficit occurred after 1986,and the per capita ecological footprint was increased to 0.237 8 hm~2 in 2003.These reveal that the utilization of natural resources in Xiji County has been increased year by year,which has exceeded the ecological carrying capacity of the natural ecosystems.The contradiction between the ecological footprint and the ecological carrying capacity has become more serious,the traditional development mode is unsustainable,and the ecological environment is currently under insecurity.It can be regarded as the measures of achieving sustainable development to control population growth,accelerate the ecological environment regeneration,protect the cultivated lands and develop the local characteristic industries so as to promote the regional economic development.