Study on sustainable development of Ningxia based on the ecological footprint analysis method

Ecological footprint analysis is a new method for measuring regional economic sustainable development.The ecological footprint and ecological capacity of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in 1980,1985,1990,1995 and 1998～2005 are calculated using this method.The results show that the ecological footprint per capita increased from 0.61 hm2 to 2.39 hm2 except the period of 1990～1995 in which it reduced.The pasture,fossil energy land and arable land are the main parts of ecological footprint.The ecological capacity per capita is reduced year by year from 1.22 hm2 to 0.76 hm2.The arable land and pasture are the main parts of ecological capacity.Before 1995,the ecological capacity was higher than the ecological footprint and the economic development was sustainable.But,the ecological deficit arose in 1995.The results show that the economic developing model of Ningxia is not sustainable after 1995.