Arid Zone Research ›› 2020, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (5): 1337-1345.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2020.05.27

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Ecological security evaluation of an oasis in the north of the Tianshan Mountains based on three-dimensional ecological footprint model

LI Peng-hui1, XU Li-ping1, LIU Xiao1, WU Pin-ru2   

  1. (1. Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 2. 130 Group Complete Middle School, Kuitun 833200, Xinjiang, China)
  • Received:2019-10-16 Revised:2020-05-03 Online:2020-09-15 Published:2020-12-16

Abstract: We used an improved three-dimensional ecological footprint model to evaluate the ecological security of the northern oasis of the Tianshan Mountains from 2000 to 2016. The results show that (1) from 2000 to 2016, the overall ecological environment of the northern oasis of the Tianshan Mountains is in an unsustainable state of development, and the ecological footprint continues to increase. The ecological footprint has increased from 8.38×106 hm2 to 2.73×107 hm2 with an average growth rate of 1.11×106 hm2·a-1. Ecological security is seriously threatened. (2) After 2002, the relative disparities in the unsustainability of the northern oasis of the Tianshan Mountains gradually decreased, and the relative differences in the ecological deficits of the internal administrative units gradually narrowed. (3) The ecological utilization efficiency of the northern oasis of the Tianshan Mountains as a whole has shown an increasing trend, which has tripled in 17 years. The degree of utilization of resources has become more and more abundant, and the economic value created by unit resources has continuously increased. However, the rate of change in each year has fluctuated dramatically, and the fluctuation range is between -18.23% and 120.84%. (4)Although the ecologically moderate population of the Tianshan Mountains’northern oasis shows a fluctuating growth trend, the demand for and use of resources are also increasing rapidly, and the continuously growing population has caused tremendous pressure on the ecological environment. Finally, some suggestions were put forward to ease the ecological pressure, reduce the ecological deficit, and promote the sustainable development of the northern oasis of the Tianshan Mountains.

Key words: three-dimensional ecological footprint, oasis, ecological security, Tianshan northern foot