The document discusses the ecological footprint as a critical sustainability indicator, detailing its definition, components, and applications for measuring humanity's demand on natural resources versus the Earth's biocapacity. It also highlights the ecological overshoot phenomenon, where human consumption exceeds the available biocapacity, and emphasizes the importance of tracking these metrics for effective sustainability planning. Additionally, it addresses the limitations of ecological footprint accounting and its significance for urban planning in contexts like Bangladesh.

1. “Ecological Footprint” as a Sustainability Indicator
Presented by
Shahadat Hossain Shakil
Research Assistant
BUET Climate Change Study Cell & Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka-1000
National Research Conference – 2012
Organized by: Bangladesh Peace and Development Mission
In Association With: National Academy for Educational Management
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2. Content
 Introduction
 Concepts and Definition of Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity
 Ecological Overshoot (Global and National Context)
 Ecological Footprint as a Sustainability Indicator
2

3. Introduction
But with Humanity depends onhas emerged as the world’s premier
The the increasing demand,much we fixed resource stocks are
But how do we Footprint nature for are using supply
Ecological know how nature’s resource and
being depleting at offaster havethan they can nature.
measure a humanity’s demand on regenerate
how much we rate to use?
Demand = ?
Supply = ?
Deficit or
Reserve = ?
3
Source: Global Footprint Network )(2011)
Source: Wackernagel (2004

4. Introduction (cont...)
Ecological Footprint
- is a Resource Accounting Tool for the Ecological Resources
- developed in 1990 by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees
- has been started to be used as a tool of measuring sustainability in the
developed countries from the last decade.
for example: UK – Cardiff, 2005 ; Canada - Calgary, 2007 ;
Australia – Victoria, 2008; USA - Minnesota, 2010
- UNDP recently began including the Ecological Footprint in its annual
Human Development Report
Source: Global Footprint Network (2011) 4

5. Concepts and Definition
Footprint accounts are divided into two parts:
- Ecological supply (Bioproductive Area or Biocapacity) and
- Human demand on nature (Ecological Footprint)
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6. Ecological Footprint
- 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 carbon dioxide emissions it generates
using prevailing technology and resource management practices (Rees
& Wackernagel, 1996).
- unit of measurement Global Hectare (gha)
Source: Global Footprint Network (2011)
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7. Footprint Components
 National Footprint Account Comprises of Six Components1
 City Footprint Account Comprises of Two Components2
Components of Footprint
Cropland Footprint
Grazing Land Footprint
Fishing Ground Footprint
Forest Land Footprint
Built-Up Land Footprint
Carbon Uptake Land Footprint
Source: Global Footprint Network (2011)
1
Ewing, Reed, Galli, Kitzes, & Wackernagel (2010)
2
Simmons, Lewis, & Barrett (2000) 7

8. Equation for Footprint Account
Formula of Ecological Footprint derived from National Footprint Account
Methodology 2010 (Ewing, Reed, Galli, Kitzes, & Wackernagel, 2010):
EF = (P/YN). YF. EQF
Where,
P = Amount of Product Harvested or Waste Emitted
YN = National Average Yield for P or its Carbon Uptake Capacity
YF = Yield Factor
EQF = Equivalency Factor
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9. Biocapacity
Biocapacity is the capacity of ecosystem to produce biological
materials useful for people, and to absorb waste they generate
(including carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning), using current
management schemes and extraction technologies.
Components of Biocapacity Account
Cropland
Grazing Land
Fishing Ground
Forest Land
Built-Up Land
Source: Ewing, Reed, Galli, Kitzes, & Wackernagel (2010)
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10. Equation for Biocapacity Account
According to National Footprint Account Methodology 2010 (Ewing,
Reed, Galli, Kitzes, & Wackernagel, 2010), a country’s biocapacity BC
for any land use type is calculated as follows:
BC = A. YF. EQF
Where,
A= Area Available for a Given Land Use Type
YF and EQF = Yield Factor and Equivalence Factor, respectively, for the
Country, Year, and Land Use Type in Question
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11. Ecological Overshoot
The difference between the Biocapacity and Ecological Footprint of
a region or country is termed as Ecological Deficit or Overshoot. An
ecological deficit occurs when the footprint of a population exceeds
the biocapacity of the area available to that population.
Source: Ewing, Moore, Goldfinger, Oursler, Reed, & Wackernagel (2010) 11

12. Global context
 Currently needed 1.5 Earth, 2required to be needed byworld's carbon if
 Ten Planet Earths will be Earth will absorb the the year 2040
everyone leads the same energy-rich lifestyle like developed countries
Source: Global Footprint Network (2011)
Source: Ecological Footprint Atlas (2010)
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13. Why Ecological Footprint is a
Sustainability Indicator ?
 Ecological Footprint attempts to answer one central sustainability question: “How
much of the bioproductive capacity of the biosphere is used by human activities?”
 Such a measure of the supply and human demand on natural capital is
indispensable for tracking progress, setting targets and driving policies for
sustainability.
 Ecological footprint accounts allow governments to track a city or region’s
demand on natural capital and to compare this demand with the amount of natural
capital actually available.
 Ecological footprint figure confirms us about the degree of sustainability of our
lifestyle from the environmental perspective.
 It illustrates whether we are on right track by maintaining the balance or we are
living on ecological credits, borrowing resources from our future generations.
 Unit of measurement gha/capita is very effective to personalize sustainability
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14. Bangladesh Context
 Lowest National Footprint in Global Context but in prominent cities
unsustainable urban development causes destruction of natural resource
 Capital Dhaka is unplanned and unsustainable in terms of resource use
Dhaka city’s Ecological Footprint figure can be effectively used
for
Sustainable Planning and Development
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15. References
Ewing, B., Moore, D., Goldfinger, S., Oursler, A., Reed, A., & Wackernagel, M. (2010). Ecological Footprint Atlas 2010.
Oakland: Global Footprint Network.
Ewing, B., Reed, A., Galli, A., Kitzes, J., & Wackernagel, M. (2010). Calculation Methodology for the National Footprint
Accoounts, 2010 Edition. Oakland: Global Footprint Network.
Global Footprint Network. (2011). Foorprint Basics-Overview. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from Global Footprint Network :
Advancing the Science of Sustainability:
http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/footprint_basics_overview/
Global Footprint Network. (2011). Footprint For Cities . Retrieved May 10, 2011, from Global Footprint Network :
Advancing the Science of Sustainability :
http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/footprint_for_cities/
Global Footprint Network. (2011). Glossary. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from Global Footprint Network : Advancing the
Science of Sustainability: http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/
McIntyre, S. A., & Peters, H. M. (2007, June 26). The Ecological Footprint of Utah. Retrieved April 4, 2011, from Utah
Vital Sign: http://www.utahpop.org/vitalsigns/research/report_2007.htm
WWF. (2010). Living Planet Report 2010. Switzerland: World Wide Fund For Nature International.
Xu, S., & Martin, I. S. (2010). Ecological Footprint for The Twin Cities: Impacts of the Consumption in the 7-County Metro
Area. Minneapolis: Metropolitan Design Centre, College of Design, University of Minnesota.
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16. Thanks for your patience….
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17. Definition of Ecological Footprint Components
Crop Land Calculated from the area used to produce food and fiber for human
consumption, feed for livestock, oil crops and rubber
Grazing Land Calculated from the area used to raise livestock for meat, dairy, hide
and wool products
Forest land Calculated from the amount of lumber, pulp, timber products and fuel
wood consumed by a country each year
Fishing Grounds Calculated from the estimated primary production required to support
the fish and seafood caught, based on catch data for 1,439 different
marine species and more than 268 freshwater species
Carbon Uptake Land Calculated as the amount of forest land required to absorb CO 2
emissions from burning fossil fuels, land-use change and chemical
processes, other than the portion absorbed by oceans
Built-up-Land Calculated from the area of land covered by human infrastructure,
including transportation, housing, industrial structures, and reservoirs
for hydropower
Source: WWF. (2010). Living Planet Report 2010. Switzerland: WWF (World Wide Fund For Nature) International.
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18. Ecological Footprint Components
Source: WWF. (2010). Living Planet Report 2010. Switzerland: WWF (World Wide Fund For Nature) International.
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19. Fundamental Assumptions of EF and BCAccounting
 The majority of the resources people consume and the wastes they generate can be
quantified and tracked.
 An important subset of these resource and waste flows can be measured in terms of the
biologically productive area necessary to maintain flows. Resource and waste flows that
cannot be measured are excluded from the assessment, leading to a systematic
underestimate of humanity’s true Ecological Footprint.
 By weighting each area in proportion to its bioproductivity, different types of areas can
be converted into the common unit of global hectares, hectares with world average
bioproductivity.
 Because a single global hectare represents a single use, and each global hectare in any
given year represents the same amount of bioproductivity, they can be added up to obtain
an aggregate indicator of Ecological Footprint or Biocapacity.
 Human demand, expressed as the Ecological Footprint, can be directly compared to
nature’s supply, Biocapacity, when both are expressed in Global Hectares.
 Area demanded can exceed area supplied if demand on an ecosystem exceeds that
ecosystems regenerative capacity.
Source: Ewing, Moore, Goldfinger, Oursler, Reed, & Wackernagel (2010) 19

20. Limitations of EF and BC Accounting
 Some critique the simplicity of the calculation while arguing that it inaccurately assumes
certain elements in lieu of having to deal with potentially complex calculations (Xu &
Martin, 2010).
 Van den Bergh and Verbruggen argue that the ecological footprint fails to capture relative
scarcity changes over time and space. Further, they question the use of potential forest
sequestration indicating that the amount of forest available is extremely hypothetical and
moreover, the footprint calculation does not consider social and economic influences
correctly (Bergh, Verbruggen, & C.J.M., 1999).
 The ecological footprint incorporates many factors of human impact on the environment
but it does not account for every impact on the environment and oftentimes, ecological
footprints are underestimating the actual impact. For instance when there is no data on
certain aspects of consumption, such as other hazardous air pollutants, heavy metals, and
persistent organic pollutants, they are not included in the calculations and there is a general
understanding that most ecological footprints remain conservative so as not to exaggerate
unknown impacts (Xu & Martin, 2010).
 The Ecological Footprint is not sufficient as a stand-alone measure of sustainability. To
measure overall progress towards sustainable development, the Footprint needs to be
complemented by other measures. Issues such as social satisfaction, human health, the
integrity of natural ecosystems, or the conversion and management of non-renewable
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resources such as minerals must be assessed using other tools (McIntyre & Peters, 2007).

21. Limitations of EF and BC Accounting
 The footprint and biocapacity accounts also do not directly account for freshwater use and
availability, since withdrawal of a cubic meter of freshwater affects biocapacity differently
depending on local conditions. Removing one cubic meter from a wet area may make little
difference to the local environment, while in arid areas every cubic meter removed can directly
compromise ecosystem production (Ewing, Reed, Galli, Kitzes, & Wackernagel, 2010).
 Also, while the Footprint analysis measures biocapacity, it does not determine how much of
the total biocapacity is available to meet non-human demand. For example, if humans consume
100% of the Earth’s biocapacity, then there is nothing remaining to support wildlife. The
Footprint does not consider how much biodiversity is essential for human life on this planet.
The methodology is therefore fundamentally anthropocentric (McIntyre & Peters, 2007).
 Finally, it is important to remember that the Ecological Footprint is only a snapshot in time.
The Footprint Accounts are based on the actual consumption and production data reported by
United Nations statistical agencies for a specified year. They reflect the analyzed year’s
consumption, land management and harvesting practices, without a forecast of future
technologies, energy supply mixes, consumption patterns, or changes in land management
practices, all of which will affect the Footprint in future years (McIntyre & Peters, 2007).
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22. Sequestration Factor
 Processes that remove CO2 from the atmosphere
 Used for conversion of CO2 values back into land areas needed
 1.6175 tons-C/ha-yr (GFN,2005)
Source: Global Footprint Network, 2011
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23. Equivalency Factor
 Used for creating a homogenous scale of land quantity by
equalizing any differences in bioproductivity of different land types
 Converts land areas, in hectares to global hectares
World Average Suitability Index for a Given Land Use Type
Equivalency Factor =
Average Suitability Index for All Land Use Types
Figure: Sample Equivalency Factor for Selected Countries
Source: Ewing, Moore, Goldfinger, Oursler, Reed, & Wackernagel (2010) 23

24. Equivalency Factor
Source: Ewing, Moore, Goldfinger, Oursler, Reed, & Wackernagel (2010) 24

25. Yield Factor
 Ratio of national average to world average yields
YFL = YN / YW
Where, YN = National Average Yield
YW = World Average Yield
YFL = Yield Factor of Land Use “L”
Figure: Sample Yield Factor for Selected Countries
Source: Ewing, Moore, Goldfinger, Oursler, Reed, & Wackernagel (2010)
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26. Yield Factor
Source: Ewing, Moore, Goldfinger, Oursler, Reed, & Wackernagel (2010) 26

27. Global Hectare
The global hectare (gha) is a measurement of biocapacity of the
entire earth - one global hectare is a measurement of the average
biocapacity of all hectare measurements of any biologically
productive areas on the planet. If we take the sum of the world's
biocapacity, then divide it by the number hectares on the Earth's
surface, we get the biocapacity of one average earth hectare.
Source: Global Footprint Network,2011
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28. Method Selected for Determining Carbon Uptake Land
Component Method
CO2 Protocols ÷ CO2 Sequestration Factor × Equivalency Factor
(tons) (tons/acre/year) (gha/year)
Energy
Food Scaling Factor to
Goods Required Amount of Biologically
Services Convert into a Universal
Productive Area to Absorb the
Transportation Unit of Biologically
Waste Produced CO2
Water Productive Area -
“Global Hectare”
Source: Xu & Martin (2010) 28