Evaluating sustainable development of water resources in typical Karst basins in Guizhou plateau using energy-ecological footprint analysis

Abstract

【Background and Objective】 Water resources play a vital role in sustaining life and supporting social and economic development. In the karst regions in southern China, rich precipitation combined with intricate geological structures makes sustainably managing water resources in the region a challenging task. This is further exacerbated by rapid urbanization and industrialization over the past decades. To address these challenges, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of water resource utilization in these regions by focusing on the Nanming River basin in the Guizhou Plateau. 【Method】 The analysis was based on the ecological footprint model - a classical method in ecological economics, and the energy ecological footprint model based on energy flow - the latest advancement in this field. Using data measured from 2010 to 2020 on water consumption and supply, we systematically analyzed the changes in water ecological footprint, ecological carrying capacity, ecological deficit, and ecological pressure in the region. 【Result】 From 2010 to 2020, the annual average ecological footprint of water resources and energy in the studied region was 1.08 hm2 per capita, while the annual average ecological carrying capacity was 0.562 hm2 per capita. Although there was an ecological deficit in water resources, the deficit showed a declining trend over the past 10 years. The annual average ecological pressure index of water resources in the region was 2.004, indicating a sub-security state but remaining within a safe range for such ecosystems. The average ecological and economic coordination index of water resources in the region was 1.345 over the past decade, close to the optimal coordination state which is 1.414. 【Conclusion】 Our study underscores a positive trajectory in water resource management in the Nanming River basin. Energy ecological footprint per capita, thousand-yuan- GDP and ecological deficit in the basin show declining trends, while ecological carrying capacity, ecological pressure, and ecological economic coordination index exhibit fluctuating patterns. These findings can help sustainable utilization of water resources in the studied region.

Keywords

• karst areas
• water resource
• energy value theory
• water ecological footprint
• sustainable development