Topic 3:
Ecological footprint of the
Institute’s excursion to Colombia
Ecological Footprint (EF) and Biocapacity
• The EF is a measure of how much biologically productive land and water
an individual, population or activity requires to produce all the resources it
consumes and to absorb the waste it generates using prevailing technology
and resource management practices.
• Biocapacity is a measure of an area’s biological productivity. It
encompasses all land, even that which is not used – whether for
reasons of geography, economics or conservation. A region’s
biocapacity grows when productivity per unit of area or the
productive areas increase.
• EF and Biocapacity are usually measured in global hectares => One global
hectare is equal to one hectare with a productivity equal to the average
productivity of the biologically productive hectares on Earth.
• EF standards -> to ensure that Footprint assessments are produced
consistently and according to community-proposed best practices. The
Standards are applicable to all Footprint studies, including subnational
populations, products, and organizations
Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3
21 October 2009
Ecological Footprint
Source: footprintnetwork
Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3
21 October 2009
“Carbon Footprint”
• The term “carbon footprint” is often used as shorthand for the
amount of carbon (usually in tonnes of carbon dioxide) being
emitted by an activity or organization = ‘carbon weight’
• In the ‘Ecological Footprint Concept’, ‘footprints’ are spatial
indicators (global hectars), i.e. the amount of carbon dioxide has to
be translated into the amount of productive land and sea area
required to sequester carbon dioxide.
• As such, the full Carbon Footprint, is one piece of the total
Ecological Footprint.
Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3
21 October 2009
Ecological and Carbon Footprint
Source: footprintnetwork
Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3
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Ecological Creditors and Debtors
Source: footprintnetwork
Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3
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Ecological Footprint Switzerland vs. Colombia
Switzerland
Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3
Colombia
21 October 2009
Ecological Footprint Switzerland vs. Colombia
Switzerland
Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3
Colombia
21 October 2009
General approach of EF Analysis
1. Definition of the system / Definition of the system
boundaries
2. Collection of data -> baseline (standards)
3. Calculation of EF -> methods (standards)
4. Analysis of EF
Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3
21 October 2009
Integrated Analysis Colombia excursion
• How can the system boundaries for the ‘Colombia
excursion’ be defined, including ecological (“EF”), but
also social and economical aspects ?
• What data is needed (and accessible) and what
methods are available to assess the excursion’s
ecological (“EF”), social & economic impacts? What is
the ecological impact of the excursion according to the
above definitions?
• How can the “EF” be related to social and economical
impacts?
-> Collaboration with Group 4 and IP !!!
Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3
21 October 2009