APPLICATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT METHOD IN REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EVALUATION
生态占用法在区域可持续发展评价中的运用与改进

It has always been important but difficult to measure the sustainable development and the major evaluation models have three types: indicators based on systematic theories and methods; indicators relying on economic valuation of the environment; and sustainability indicators including biophysical assessments. The ecological footprint analysis initiated by William E. Rees is one of the indicators includes biophysical assessments and gets rid of the defects of the other models. Thus, ecological footprint has gradually become popular on account of its measuring indexes based on scientific theory, innovative thoughts and its wide adaptability. After a brief review of the concepts and methodologies associated with ecological footprint, this paper presents a new method to measure the sustainable development. Furthermore, by using this advanced method, a case study from the Henan province is presented.