Evaluation on Sustainable Utilization of Water Resource in North Shaanxi Province Based on Ecological Footprint Model

Abstract

Since the ecological footprint model was proposed by E.R.William,it has been widely used.It,however,is mostly applied to evaluate the ecological carrying capacity of land resources but rarely used in evaluating water resources.In this paper,the carrying capacity of water resources and ecological footprint in north Shaanxi Province during the period from 1997 to 2006 are calculated by applying the ecological footprint model.The results show that the utilization of water resources in north Shaanxi Province in recent 10 years was in an ecological deficit,and the ecological deficit was increased from 3 626.87 hm2 in 1997 to 9 342.21 hm2 in 2006.In a short period of 10 years,the ecological deficit was increased by nearly 2 times,and it will be continuously increased,which has brought a serious threat to sustainable social and economic development in north Shaanxi Province.Along with the construction of the energy and heavy chemical bases,water consumption will be dramatically increased,and the shortage of water resources will become more and more serious.On which three proposals are suggested for sustainable utilization of water resources based on the peculiar economic position and ecological environment in north Shaanxi Province,they are to increase the utilization efficiency of water resources and build the water-saving society,protect water sources,prevent water pollution and speed up the construction of regional ecological environment,and implement the rational redistribution of water resources and construct the water conservancy projects.