Application And Research Of Water Footprint And Rocky Desertification Controlling In Typical Karst Area

Water is a sort of natural resource that can't be replaced. It is also one of the base for the sustainable development of the society and economy. The water resources are one of the most important basic aspects in supporting the social economic sustainable development in karst area. The total amount of groundwater in karst area is rich because of plenty of rainfall. However the karst area have become one of the seriously short of water region now due to the intensively developed karst and serious ecological degeneration. The short of water resource is the key factor to the local economical development.Water footprint and virtul water are the hot topics in the field of water resources research. The water footprint concept has been developed in order to have an indicator of water use in relation to consumption of people. The water footprint of a country is defined as the volume of water needed for the production of the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the country. Closely linked to the water footprint concept is the virtual water concept. Virtual water is defined as the volume of water required to produce a commodity or service. The internal water footprint of a nation is the volume of water used from domestic water resources to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the country. The external water footprint of a country is the volume of water used in other countries to produce goods and services imported and consumed by the inhabitants of the country. Using the water footprint concept as a practical tool to analyse how consumption patterns affect water use, which is a hot topics in the field of international water resources research. How countries can externalise their water footprint in order to reduce the pressure on the domestic water resources and how other countries can profit from their relative abundance of water by exporting water-rich commodities, which are two developing directions of the water footprint concept.For innovating research method of the water problem and perfecting the administration of water in karst area, this paper computes and analyses the water footprint and the correlated evaluation indices of Nanchuan district by introducing water footprint analysis method. The whole thesis is dicided into six parts totally. In part one, it simply elaborates the topic basis and the significance, the documentary summaries of water footprint, main studies contents and the key question which the paper plans to solve.In part two, water footprint model including its conceptions, theories, calculation and analysis methods, index system, etc.In part three, probing into the calculating methods of water footprint in karst area of Nanchuan district.In part four, synthetically analyze water footprint in Nanchuan district from 1997 to 2006, including water footprint changing current and water footprint composing.In part five, probing into the application and research of water footprint and rocky desertification in karst area.Part six is conclusion and discussion. According to the above-mentioned analyses and studies, we can arrive at the following majior conclusions:1. It is demonstrated that water footprint in Nanchuan district in 2006 is 568.39×106m~3, the per capita 874 m~3/cap/yr, water scarcity is 47.13%, water self-sufficiency is 96.20%, however, it is a disadvantage to Nanchuan district because water is very scarce in this region.2. After computes and analyses the water footprint and the correlated evaluation indices in Nanchuan district from 1997 to 2006, the suggestions are put forward for the sustainable development of the society and economy in Nanchuan district. Such as adjusting the industrial structure, optimizing water resources allocation, enhancing the capacity of water environment, implementing virtual water strategy and so on.3. Water scarcity often brings rocky desertification. The formation and development of rocky desertification will further strain its limited water resources.4. Applies the theories and methods of water footprint to rocky desertification area, we can ensure its water resources security, further the development of the society and economy, adjust the industrial structure, change consumptions patterns of local inhabitants and innovate the prevention of rocky desertification.