Based on characteristics of ecological environment in important water supply area of the Yellow River, China, the index system and methodology was built from the ecological resilience, ecological sensitivity and social economic influence. Using GIS technique to construct spatial database, index weight was determined by Analytic Hierarchy Process. Through the overall analysis and spatial analysis, the important water supply area of the Yellow River was divided into three regions which are ecological red line region, ecological yellow line region and ecological green line region, and it further clarify the countermeasures for management and protection of three regions. In the process of construction of evaluation system, it consider not only characteristic of ecological environment, but also the impact of human activities on the ecological environment, and evaluate from two aspects of ecological pressure and active transformation, which reflects a systematic view that the human and ecological system is a unified body. The results showed that red line region account for 38.4% of entire area which mainly distributed in the Yellow River in Maqu County and its the source of tributaries, the ecotone between agriculture and animal husbandry of two prefectures of Gannan and Linxia, and the shoreside areas of Bailongjiang River. It can be divided into many types,such as the Yellow River water conservation area in Maqu County, soil and water conservation and biodiversity area in the farming-pastoral ecotone in Gannan and Linxia Prefectures, wetland water conservation area in Luqu County, wetland water conservation area in Hezuo County, riverhead water conservation area of Daxia River, riverhead water conservation area of Taohe River, soil and water conservation area of Bailongjiang riverside, and water conservation area of Liujiaxia Reservoir. It should implement the most stringent control measures, prohibit all kinds of development activities in ecological red line area. The yellow line region account for 39.1% of entire area, mainly distributed in the south of Linxia, northwest and south of Gannan. Because of its important ecological strategic position, ecological rehabilitation and governance are the key points, and the development and construction activities that are detrimental to the ecological functions are strictly prohibited. The green line region account for 22.5% of entire area, mainly distributed in the north of Linxia and in the middle of Gannan. These areas should be moderate development, promote the transformation and upgrading of industry and the positive interaction of environmental protection through the development of ecological industry.
