Spatiotemporal Change of Ecological Capacity of Lancang River Valley in Yunnan Province

Lancang River Valley has a complicated geographical context, rich biological resources, frangible eco-environment and intensive human disturbance. In this region, there are great differences between ecological security level and ecological capacity. Analyzing the spatiotemporal changes of ecological capacity is important for government to manage the development of Lancang River Valley. In a case study of each county in the region, we used the method of ecological footprint to study spatiotemporal change of ecological capacity in different period. We compared the values of ecological capacity with that calculated by the theory of net primary productivity (NPP for short) in order to analyze the differences between two methods. The results showed as follow: (1) Ecological capacity of Lancang River Valley reduced year by year. (2) Ecological capacity had a negative correlation with population density. But its pattern of distributing was consistent with that of ecological capacity. (3) Ecological capacity Calculated by NPP increased gradually from north to south. Comparing with two methods, ecological capacity calculated by NPP was considered as maximum capacity in theoretical, and that by ecological footprint as real value.