The Concept of the Ecological Footprint, or Be Careful Where You Step

What is Biocapacity?

• Biocapacity as a lens: Capacity of biosphere to regenerate and provide for life. Even more limiting than minerals, metals or fossil fuel.

• Competition for productive surfaces: basic ecological principle – allows to add up the competing human demands.

• Demands include natural resources, waste absorption, water renewal, productive areas dedicated to urban uses etc.

1 ha

Measurement Unit: global hectare (gha)

2 gha

Fore example, if this

hectare is twice as productive as a world

average, biologically productive hectare. Then

it is worth 2 gha.

½ gha1 ha

For example, if this

hectare is half as productive as a world

average, biologically productive hectare. Then

it is worth ½ gha.

Biocapacity

The Earth’s total biocapacity in 2012 was about 12 billion global hectors, or about 1.72 gha per a person

The Ecological Footprint

CARBON footprint

FISHING grounds

FOREST PRODUCT footprint

Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors – 1961

Debtor

Creditor

Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors – 2008

Global Footprint--------------------------- = 1.6

Global Biocapacity

Debtor

Creditor