Ecological and Carbon Footprint Overview

Ecological Footprint

• A measure of the land and water an individual, population, or activity requires to produce resources and process waste.
• Typically measured in biologically productive hectares (1 ha = 2.47 acres).
• Calculated by summing the land needed for:
  • Food consumed
  • Water used
  • Energy used
  • Clothing worn
  • Housing and transportation
• Developed nations have larger footprints than developing nations.

Carbon Footprint

• A measure of greenhouse gas emissions (primarily CO2, but also methane and others) from activities.
• Factors affecting footprints:
  • Increase: Affluence (wealth), larger houses, more travel, meat consumption, and more resource-intensive goods.
  • Decrease: Renewable energy use, public transport, plant-based diets, reduced consumption/travel/energy use.

Sustainability

• Using resources without jeopardizing future generations' ability to do the same.
• Developed nations consume more resources than developing nations.
• Earth's population of 8 billion faces resource challenges.
• Developing nations experience faster population growth and consumption increases.

Sustainable Development

• Balancing human well-being and economic progress with resource management for future generations.

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

• The highest amount of a renewable resource that can be harvested without depleting it.
• Roughly half the carrying capacity.
• Maximizes resource harvest and population regeneration.

Environmental Indicators of Sustainability

• Measurements describing the environmental system's state/Earth.
• Key Indicators:
  • Biodiversity (genetic, species, ecosystem): Higher biodiversity indicates healthier ecosystems.
  • Food Production: Earth's ability to support agriculture (threatened by climate change, soil degradation, groundwater depletion). Increasing meat consumption strains this system.
  • Global Surface Temperature and CO2 Concentration: Earth depends on narrow temperature ranges. Increased CO2 from deforestation and fossil fuel use is unsustainable.
  • Human Population and Resource Depletion: Growing human populations lead to unsustainable resource use.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• Uses various pest control methods for minimal environmental disruption and pesticide use.
• IPM methods include:
  • Crop rotation (planting different crops to prevent pest adaptation/disease).
  • Intercropping (growing different crops simultaneously to promote biological interactions).
  • Biocontrol (introducing species to consume pests).
• IPM benefits: reduced harm to non-target species, humans, and water. However, IPM methods might be more time-consuming/costly.

Sustainable Agriculture

• Meets food and fiber needs whilst enhancing soil quality.
• Sustainable practices include:
• Soil conservation (prevention of erosion, increased nutrients).
• Minimizing non-renewable resources.
• Economic viability for farmers.

Modern Sustainable Farming Techniques

• Agroforestry: Planting vegetation as windbreaks.
• Strip cropping: Using different spacing/rooting characteristics to prevent erosion.
• Contour plowing: Plowing/harvesting alongside land contours.
• Terracing: Shaping sloping land into flat steps.
• Perennial plants: Plants that don't need replanting.
• No-till agriculture: No plowing between seasons.
• Green manure: Planting material for plowing.
• Limestone: Ground calcium carbonate as fertilizer.

Organic Agriculture

• Crop production without synthetic pesticides/fertilizers.

Aquaculture

• Increasing fish production without depleting fisheries.
• Methods: floating nets, coastal ponds, inland ponds, enclosed land structures.
• Benefits: high yield, small land/water requirements.
• Drawbacks: limited biodiversity, high density can cause pollution/diseases.

Sustainable Forestry

• Managing forests for wood production, clean water, maximum biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
• Methods: selective cutting, avoiding habitat fragmentation, removing diseased trees, and prescribed burning (to reduce dead biomass buildup).