Response to small-scale ecological rehabilitation of fragile ecotope in Northern Shaanxi Province

Xiannangou small catchment was used as a case to assess the ecological-economic effects of ecological rehabilitation of fragile ecotope in Northern Shaanxi Province. The evolution of ecological and economic processes in the course of ecological rehabilitation in this catchment were analyzed in order to reveal the mechanisms of response to ecological restoration and search the economically sustainable eco-restoration mode of small-scale fragile ecotope using the methods of economics, emergy and ecological footprint. The results showed that over the period of 2000-2005, the structure and diversity of the catchment’s industries were significantly improved. The results of emergy analysis suggested an improvement for resources input structure, system productive efficiency was increased with decreasing transformity and the emergy-based sustainability index was increased in the catchment during the period from 2002 to 2005. The ecological footprint calculation gave an ecological surplus with 0.030 hm2 and 0.239 hm2 in 2000 and 2005, respectively. And ecological footprint pressure index (IEFP) with 0.980 and 0.838 in 2000 and 2005, respectively. Ecological pressure reduced, and eco-economic system would provide conditions for sustainable development. Two integrated indicators, ecological footprint per 10 000 (EFprod) with the value of 53.5 and 33.6 hm2 in 2000 and 2005, respectively, and emergy per EF(EMEF) with the value of 1.93×1012 sej/hm2 and 2.00×1012 sej/hm2 in 2002 and 2005, respectively, implied the gradual improvement in resources economic efficiency and intensive degree. All results presented above suggested that ecological rehabilitation contributes to the improvement of resource use and conversion efficiency, as well as to decreases in environmental loading ratio and area of biological productive for economic activities, and increases the sustainability potential in the catchment. This study indicates that ecological restoration is an essential pathway to the ecological and economic coupling and harmonization of fragile ecotope in Northern Shaanxi Province.