Definition
Biocapacity
Biocapacity is the capacity of a biologically productive area to continuously provide renewable resources and assimilate the waste generated by human activities.
- Biocapacity measures the natural regenerative capacity of ecosystems to sustain human life and economic activity.
- Like ecological footprint, biocapacity is expressed in global hectares (gha), a unit that standardizes biologically productive land and water based on average global productivity.
A hectare of fertile farmland has a higher biocapacity than a hectare of desert.
Relationship Between Biocapacity and Ecological Footprint
- Ecological footprint (EF) measures how much land and water a population demands for its lifestyle.
- Biocapacity measures how much land and water is available to meet these demands.
- Sustainability depends on the balance between EF and biocapacity.
- Sustainability occurs when biocapacity is greater than or equal to the ecological footprint.
- Unsustainability occurs when the ecological footprint exceeds biocapacity.
Ecological Deficit vs Ecological Reserve
- Ecological Deficit occurs when ecosystem demand (EF) is greater than what the ecosystem can replenish (biocapacity).
- This leads to:
- Resource depletion
- Loss of soil fertility and biodiversity
- Increased pollution and waste accumulation
- Reliance on imports or exploitation of external ecosystems
