Dynamic Evolution of the Ecological Carrying Capacity of Poverty-Stricken Karst Counties Based on Ecological Footprints: A Case Study in Northwestern Guangxi, China

Shana Shi, Baoqing Hu, Yan Yan, Xiaoqing Li, Kaichun Zhou, Chuanyong Tang and Binggeng Xie
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Shana Shi: College of Resources and Environment Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Baoqing Hu: Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Nanning Normal University, Ministry of Education, Nanning 530001, China
Yan Yan: Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Nanning Normal University, Ministry of Education, Nanning 530001, China
Xiaoqing Li: College of Resources and Environment Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Kaichun Zhou: College of Resources and Environment Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Chuanyong Tang: School of Geography and Planning, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China
Binggeng Xie: College of Resources and Environment Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: The karst area in northwestern Guangxi is poor, underdeveloped, and ecologically fragile. It is experiencing rocky desertification, which creates challenges that are more severe than those of other regional ecological environments. In this paper, the ecological footprint (EF) model is used to analyze the ecological carrying capacity (EC) in northwestern Guangxi from 1995 to 2015, and the differences in karst counties with different poverty levels are discussed. The results show that (1) since 1995, the EC of northwestern Guangxi has continued to decrease, the EF has continued to increase, the ecological deficit (ED) has been expanding, and the status of the region has been unsustainable for a long time. (2) The evolutionary patterns, EF and EC of karst counties with different poverty levels are different. The county with the lowest poverty rate has the fastest growth rate of the per capita EF. The county with the largest proportion of karst area has the lowest EC. (3) It is recommended that different types of counties take different measures, including strengthening ecological environment protection, carrying out rocky desertification control and ecological resettlement projects, and reducing energy consumption. This study can provide information for the sustainable development of the karst region and provide decision support for regional poverty alleviation.

Keywords: karst county; poverty rate; ecological footprint; ecological carrying capacity; dynamic evolution; northwestern Guangxi (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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