Abstract: The ecological footprint theory developed by W E Rees and his student M Wackernagel, is the succinct and effective way to measure the human impact on the nature resources and judge whether human activities stay within carrying capacity. Taking Yuexi County in Anhui province as an example, this paper applies this method to analyze the sustainable development condition in the mountain area, and to explore the effective way to obtain sustainable development. Yuexi was in the condition of ecological surplus in 2002, and the ecological surplus was 0.076280hm2 per cap. The problems were also analyzed in relation to the utility of the resources by the meas of comparison with the national average ecological footprint and the analysis of its own ecological footprint demand and supply. This article put forward that ecotourism and ecological agriculture should be the only way for Yuexi county to obtain a sustainable development, with the suggestion of corresponding measures.

Key words: ecological footprint, mountain area, sustainable development, Yuexi County