Sustainable Development Of Hohhot-Baotou-Erdos Urban Agglomeration Based On Ecological Footprint Theory

Based on ecological footprint theory, we explored sustainable development of Hohhot-Baotou-Erdos urban agglomeration, and including three cities of the urban agglomeration. Through analysing the ecological footprint and ecological security of the urban agglomeration and three cities during2001to2011, the main conclusions are as follows:(1) Per capita ecological footprint of Hohhot, Baotou, Erdos aincreased, and the fossil energy land is the biggest contributor. The per capita ecological carrying capacity of three cities all showed an downward trend. Meanwhile, per capita ecological carrying capacity of cultivated land played most important role. Because ecological footprint is greater than ecological carrying capacity, it reflected ecological deficit. The ecological deficit with the characteristic of largest fossil energy land increased year by year, While, the supply of farmland and forestland is greater than demand, it indicated anecological surplus. (2) Compared the urban agglomeration and including three cities, per capita ecological footprint of the urban agglomeration was lower than that of erdos and Baotou. The per capita ecological carrying capacity of the urban agglomeration was higher than that of Hohhot and Baotou. It showed weaker ecological deficit for the urban agglomeration than Erdos and Baotou. Meanwhile, the growth rate of the ecological deficit of the urban agglomeration was also lower than Erdos and Hohhot.(3) During the past11years, ecological pressure index of the urban agglomeration increased year by year,while ecological sustainability index showed a gradually decrease year by year.The ecosystem state changed from safe to unsafe. Meanwhile, sustainability development also changed from weak unsustainable situation to strong unsustainable situation. And it became more and more serious.