Using the theory and method of the ecological footprint, combining the change of regional land use, resource environment, population, social and economics, this paper calculated the ecological footprint, ecological carrying capacity and ecological surplus / loss in 1986-2002 in the three major regions of Shaanxi Province, namely, the Loess Plateau, the Weihe basin in Guanzhong and Qinling-Daba Mountains. What is more, this paper has put forward the concept of ecological pressure index, set up ecological pressure index models, ecological safety grading systems, and the prediction models of different ecological footprints, ecological carrying capacity, ecological surplus and ecological safety change, also has tested and assessed the ecological footprint demands of 10,000 yuan of GDP. Results show that: (1) The ecological carrying capacity in each region shows a decreasing tendency, the difference of reducing range is obvious, the northern part of Shaanxi is the fastest, the southern part is the slowest, Guanzhong is in the middle. (2) The ecological footprint in each region shows an increasing trend with varying degrees, from small to big, the three regions are successively the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi, Weihe basin of Guanzhong, Qinling-Daba Mountains of southern Shaanxi. (3) The ecological pressure index of the period 1986-2004: increasing from 0.44 to 0.91 in the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi, an increase of 0.47; from 0.75 to 1.20 in the Weihe basin, an increase of 0.45; from 0.19 to 0.22 in the Qinling-Daba Mountains of southern Shaanxi, an increase of 0.03. Annual average pressure index in the Weihe basin is the greatest, 5.37 times that of Qinling-Daba Mountains, and 1.30 times of the Loess Plateau. (4) The ecological safety in each region: Qinling-Daba Mountains are in a safety state; Weihe basin overloading seriously and in an unsafety state; the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi in a critical state with pressure index increasing the fastest.
