ABSTRACT
The Ecological Footprint (EF) which was in 1992 (Rees, 1992; Wackernagel and Rees, 1996) is a new theory and method by which the status of sustainable development is measured (based on continued reliance of humans on land). Ecological Footprint means the productive agricultural land area required for maintaining the living of a specific population and the absorbing of associated wastes. By measuring the gap between the demands of humans on natural resources and supplies of ecosystem, it is possible to assess the status of sustainable development in a region. The EF model was introduced into China in 1999. Because of its sound theoretical basis, universal applicability and very large index system, it has been comprehensively applied to measure and analyze the status of development in China and in some provinces and cities (Xu et al. 1999).
