The study looked at how Gansu Province's environmental impact changed from 1996 to 2009. Researchers used a method called ecological footprint to measure things like how much land and resources people used compared to what the environment could provide. They found that over those years, each person's environmental footprint got bigger, while the area's ability to support these footprints stayed relatively stable. There was a gap between what people used and what the environment could handle, which also increased. Based on their predictions, if things continue this way, the environmental impact will keep growing. To make things more sustainable, Gansu needs to focus on improving agriculture and changing how industries operate.