Regional differences of relative carrying capacity of resources in Gansu pastoral area

The aim of the study is to analyze the relative resource carrying capacity and its sustainable development status of pastoral areas in the past 10 years from 2009 to 2014, applying the model of geo-relative resource carrying capacity, taking Gansu Province as a reference area. The results showed that: 1) The grassland have surplus population and economic overload in Maqu, Luqu, Xiahe, Zhuoni and Tianzhu,which belongs to the economically developed areas of animal husbandry. The population and economy of grassland in Hezuo and Diebuare both overloaded and densely populated. The animal husbandry is more developed in these areas. 2) Sunan, Subei and A Kesai could be seen as the economically less developed areas with relatively abundant grassland resources and small population density, indicating a greateconomic development potential of animal husbandry. 3) Water resources are the key contributors to the relative resources carrying capacity, population and economy; 4) The relative resource carrying capacity of grassland in Gansu is quite different. The imbalance of water and soil resources is a potential threat to the sustainable development of pastoral areas. This study will provide reference for the rational use of the resources, the optimization and adjustment of the development mode, the formulation of future development strategy and direction, and the improvement of self-development capacityin pastoral areas. The paper finally forms a coordinated development of population, resources and environment, as well asregional social economy.