Ecological Footprint

Ecological Footprint Definition

Ecological footprint is measured by the area of productive land and water, that successfully provides for the number of resources a population consumes and, absorbs the amount of waste the population releases. Resources include:

• Livestock
• Water
• Building materials
• Plant-based food
• Fish
• Space for living

Fig. 1 Ecological footprint by country at year 2007. Developed countries (red dark) have a higher ecological footprint than developing countries (more purple ones).

Ecological Footprint Example

You can imagine a population's ecological footprint as being their environmental bank account. The footprint will measure the demand of the population for resources and waste they release, and the supply of biologically productive land in terms of the provision of resources and absorption of waste. Here is a diagram that shows an example of a range of biologically productive land and human development:

Ecological Footprint Factors and Examples

Let's have a look at the social and economic factors affecting ecological footprint, and some of the environmental implications of the choices we make.

Infrastructure

The buildings we choose to build as civilisations and the way we house ourselves have huge impacts on our ecological footprint. The demand for more materials will require the demolition of productive habitats and often the reduction of producer populations (deforestation of arboreal areas). Therefore, ecosystems providing other services will be affected and will be less able to absorb waste (carbon dioxide emissions). Clearing room for urban development is often at the expense of productive habitats as well.

Food and Water Consumption

Different populations will consume more resources than others. This is especially prevalent in developed countries where efficient agricultural practices and mass production roll out huge amounts of food every day. Compare this to under-developed countries (for example in Sub-Saharan Africa) where farmers struggle to produce enough food to meet the needs of villages where technology and land productivity are low.

Appropriate agriculture

Agroecosystems are included in the productive land, but inappropriate agricultural practices can reduce surrounding biodiversity and damage nearby aquatic ecosystems. Ill-informed application of pesticides can kill off insect populations that are staples of the surroundings and negatively impact their fellow species, competitors, and predators. Overuse of fertilisers can cause soils to become overconcentrated in nutrients, allowing the potential for leaching after rain and the eutrophication of nearby water bodies.

Energy

Although there have been promising advances in renewable energy sources in the last couple of decades, it is non-renewable sources which dominate energy production. Fossil fuels (gas, coal, and oil) are used in abundance in agriculture, mass production, transport, and electricity. These fossil fuels are not only non-renewable and are using up resources, but also release waste in the form of carbon dioxide and other dangerous by-products.

Economic Arms Race

Most countries and civilisations are constantly competing to be the most powerful. Power normally comes with being the richest, producing the most energy, and having the largest cities. These endeavours do not always consider environmental implications and involve:

• Burning fossil fuels
• Intensive agricultural practices
• Clearing productive habitats for space

Environmental Degradation

These factors we have covered will have an impact on the environment the majority of the time. Mass production, energy, agriculture, transport, and heavy machinery involved in building infrastructure all release greenhouse gases. These GHGs contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Global warming puts stress on many productive areas that we rely on for resources. Agriculture is becoming more difficult in warmer temperatures (especially in the tropics). Warmer environments also cause migration of species northward which has consequences for entire ecosystems and their productivity of resources.

Ecological Footprint Measures

There are a variety of ways of measuring a person or population's ecological footprint when data is collected on their lifestyle and consumption. For example, simple measures of their meat consumption, water usage, recycling, type of energy used, and modes of transport can help to give a rough estimate. However, there are ways of being more accurate in footprint measures, but first, we need to get to grips with a global hectare.

Here is an ecological footprint calculation which has been introduced in recent years.

EF = ΣT_i/Y_w x EQF_i

The variables are as follows:

EF = Ecological Footprint in global hectares

T = tonnes consumed in a year by the population

i = product that is being investigated

Y_w = average yield of the investigated product for the whole world

EQF_i = the equivalence factor for the investigated product

Average yield takes into account different landscapes and productivities for the product over the whole planets, while equivalence factors convert the investigated area into a suitable number of global hectares.

Biocapacity Definition

The biocapacity of a specific area concerns the entirety of the available biologically productive land and water. This can include cropland, grazing land, fishing spots, arboreal areas, and land cleared for human development. A region possessing a large biocapacity will be able to support the demands of a larger population and higher consumption. Biocapacity is measured in global hectares too, so comparisons can be easily made with a population's ecological footprint.

Here are some important limits to realise when considering biocapacity:

• The finite nature of the vast majority of resources we have access to and that we rely on.

• The ever-expanding global population will demand more resources.

• The ability of the environment to recover from human interference.

Biocapacity and Ecological Footprint Relationship

Exploring the relationship between ecological footprint and biocapacity is important in understanding the steps that need to be taken in society to ensure the trajectory of our planet is sustainable. When comparing both values in global hectares, there are two terms we need to know.

Measurements of biocapacity and ecological footprint on global, regional, and local scales can help us to identify problem regions lacking in renewable resources and implement initiatives to reduce pressures on biocapacity in these areas. A global average biocapacity is a common goal to maintain a lower ecological footprint, but this may not always be realistic with the range of landscapes and conditions affecting productivity around the world.