A Study On Impacts Of Ecological Restoration On Ecological Carrying Capacity In Ecologically Frangible Regions Of Northern Shaanxi Province

For a long time, drought, soil erosion and fragile ecological environment are challenges in Northern Shaanxi, where is one of the key areas of China ecological restoration. From 1999 china has implemented several ecological restoration programs such as Grain for Green Programs (GGP) to improve the eco-environment of the ecologically fragile area. Northern Shaanxi became a targeted region. In this paper, taking the Majiagou catchments of Ansai country, Shaanxi province as a case study, the changes in eco-environmental aspects were examined in the typical loess hilly and gully region over the period from 1999(the year starting the GGP) to 2007. Using Ecological Footprint Accounting and its revision, the ecological carrying capacity of the case study were assessed.The result showed as follows:(1) 1999 to 2007, the ecological footprint of the Majiagou catchments declined, while ecological carrying capacity gradually increased, the ecological footprint accounts began to appear surplus in 2002;(2) 1999 ~ 2007 the virtual water content per unit mass in main crops and livestock products of the Majiagou catchments decreased year by year, gradually reduced the total consumption of virtual water and improved the local water crisis;(3) The revised ecological footprint accounting showed that, from 1999 to 2007 the Majiagou catchments was always in a ecological deficit state, but ecological deficit of the state was gradually being improved under the implementation of ecological programs such as GGP, etc ;(4) Based on the result of the revised Ecological Footprint Method, adopting SPSS to forecast 2008~2013 ecological footprint and biocapacity of the Majiagou catchments, found that under current developing lever, the ecological footprint will keep reducing and the biocapacity will keep rising, and the eco-deficit will get improved gradually, tending to eco-surplus.The presentation of results show that the ecological restoration projects has brought significant improvements to the basin's natural environment and the local land productivity of the Majiagou catchments located in the Loess Plateau, the environment pressure of human producing and consuming has been reduced, the goals and objectives of the eco-engineering preliminarily appeared.But in this study some issues were also found, such as the carbon sequestration land (fossil fuels footprint) was inadequate, excessive consumption of water resources brought on serious water resources deficit etc., which had a negative impact on the sustainable development of the local eco-economy. It's necessary to take relevant measures to improve the local status quo.