Abstract:

The ecological optimum population of a district is decided by ecological capacity in the district and district population's need about the ecological resources. This paper, firstly, introduces the key conceptions and procedures of the model, and then calculates the ecological footprint and the utilizable ecological capacity from 1999 to 2006 in Xianyang city. On this basis, the optimum population is estimated from 1999 to 2006 in Xianyang city. During 1999-2001, the actual population of Xianyang city gradually increased from 467.12 ten thousand to 477.32 ten thousand, and the ec-optimum population of Xianyang city gradually increased from 188.86 ten thousand to 195.40 ten thousand. During 2002-2006, the actual population of Xianyang city gradually increased from 481.66 ten thousand to 499.69 ten thousand, and the ec-optimum population of Xianyang city gradually decreased from 177.43 ten thousand to 138.04 ten thousand. To sum up, it revealed that Xianyang city had already in a state of ecological deficit and overpopulation, and the current size of the population was very unreasonable. Finally, the available ways for the sustainable development of Xianyang city in the future were put forward.