Evaluation method of regional sustainable development based on land use information

Considering the advantages of the ecological footprint emphasizing the effect of human activities and ecosystem service value emphasizing the influence of natural resources, the method of assessment of regional sustainable development was proposed based on land use information. Taking Jiangxi province as a case, land use dynamic change information was acquired by interpreting remote sensing images in three years of 1990, 2000 and 2008.The ecological footprint and the value of ecosystem services in the three periods were calculated on the land use data. Regional sustainable development assessment index were selected based on land use information, and the sustainable development was evaluated in the three periods. Results showed that although the capacity of provide ecological services was in good condition in the study period, disturbances human activities had caused the region unsustainable development. Sustainable development assessment index displayed the negative trend of sustainable development. The reason was that the increasing rate of the value of ecosystem services was slower than that of the ecological deficit. The sustainable development was mostly impacted by human activities. This research could provide the theoretical and reference basis of sustainable development of Jiangxi province.