Abstract:  

In order to evaluate the ecological carrying capacity more objectively and universally, construct an ecological capacity analysis framework by applying FootprintService Value method based on the value unit, we selected the panel data of 97 counties in Shaanxi Province from 2000 to 2015, analyzed the distribution characteristics, the evolution path, and the driving factors of the ecological carrying capacity index for Shaanxi Province using the global Moran’s I, the LISA agglomeration maps, and the spatial Dubin model. Following findings were obtained in this research:(1) the index of ecological carrying capacity in Shaanxi Province and the three major regions rapidly increased at the beginning, and then decreased slowly, which showed significant spatial autocorrelation and spatial heterogeneity, and the lowvalue clustering phenomenon was obvious especially in Guanzhong Region;(2) the value of forest land area and the equivalent factor were the main factors that promoted the increase of the ecological carrying capacity index, while the per capita consumption value was the main factor that inhibited the increase of the ecological carrying capacity index; and(3) there were differences in the driving factors affecting the ecological carrying capacity index in the north of Shaanxi, Guanzhong, and the south of Shaanxi. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the investment in ecological restoration projects in Shaanxi Province, reduce the growth rate of per capita consumption value, and implement a differential ecological carrying capacity policy, so as to achieve the goal of ecological carrying capacity improvement.