Comprehensive Evaluation on Ecological Security in the Upper Min River Basin

Abstract

Related literatures about ecological fragile region is reviewed; status of ecological environment in upper Min River basin is summarized. Equations for calculating the ecological footprint and ecological carrying capacity, as well as the standards for determining the status of ecological security, are introduced. When ecological carrying capacity is greater than ecological footprint, eco-system in this region is in safe state, and vice versa. According to the research data about 5 counties in upper Min River Basin, per capita ecological footprint and ecological capacity per capita are calculated in upper Min River Basin. Result shows that ecological system in upper Min River Basin is in a safe state in general. Interference of human activities on natural ecosystems has not exceeded the threshold of natural ecological carrying capacity; economic and social development is sustainable. Fossil energy, ecological demand of construction land and cultivated land is greater than the supply. There are deficits in ecological footprint component. Among them, deficit of cultivated land is the maximum, which is in the overloaded state. According to the national scale, ecological security is not optimistic in the upper Min River basin. However, according to the global scale, it is in the sustainable condition. Utilization of resources is relatively extensive in the upper Min River basin with unreasonable consumption structure. And economic development is achieved at the expense of natural resources