Regional Ecological Security Assessment Based on Long Periods of Ecological Footprint Analysis

This article is an elementary exploration and practice of applying the theory and method of ecological footprint to assess regional ecological security. The ecological footprint from 1996 to 2008 and ecological security of Jilin Province of China were calculated and analyzed based on the theory of ecological footprint. Furthermore, the concept and model of ecological footprint pressure index (EFPI) as well as the grade system of regional ecological security was put forward based on ecological footprint so as to analyze the regional ecological security, and some measures to slow down the growth of the ecological footprint and maintain the regional ecological security were put forward at last. The following results were obtained. (1) It is feasible to analyze regional ecological security based on EFPI, which can reflect the degree of ecological security from two respects of carrying capacity and pressure. (2) Among 13 years from 1996 to 2008, the per capita ecological capacity in three regions appears to be a reducing tendency; the per capita ecological footprint shows an increasing tendency.