The study looked at how well the Yangtze Basin can support its population and economy sustainably. They found that the economic resources are crucial for supporting the population, but the region has been overloaded from 1988 to 1998. Different areas in the region have varying levels of resource capacity, with some being overloaded and others having enough resources. The upper reaches of the basin have poor ecological environments, while the lower reaches face various challenges in balancing human needs with the environment.