Biocapacity

Biocapacity or biological capacity is the capacity of an ecosystem to produce useful biological materials and to absorb waste materials generated by humans. The term is related to the concept of the Ecological Footprint in the framework of the theory of sustainable development and is only used in connection with these concepts. The theory according to the biocapacity is in a sense the opposite of the ecological footprint on the supply side of the equations. It is thus in the same unit (global ) hectares ( abbreviated AL ) was measured.

Description

The biocapacity of a region or a country is defined as the set of " bioproductive surfaces " of this region. It is the base area in acres multiplied by an equivalence factor and a yield factor. The equivalence factor arises from the production of usable biomass ( or the other just considered ecological service area) in relation to use. The yield factor measures the same in relation to the global average (eg yield per hectare of food for the same usage and intensity depending on the country or region). It's about the limits of usability of the biosphere with this approach, besides the most important use function that excludes other use functions as a so-called primary function included (eg you can not have the same surface used for timber production and food production ). The area can also provide other ecological services (eg, groundwater recharge, a sink for carbon dioxide). But limiting effect only one function, one with the narrowest each offer. The biocapacity is therefore also affected by the current technological level of development, ie by the level of processing, promotion and cultivation techniques. The equivalence factor and thus the biocapacity depends on the land use and therefore can be changed by changing the use. This allows the bio-capacity, in contrast to the base itself, also be increased.

By " useful biological materials " means all materials which are currently required to produce finished products. This in turn means that the bio-capacity materials may also change with time. For example, if corn stover for bioethanol production are used, corn stover would be a useful biological material and thereby increase the biocapacity of maize - growing areas.

Imports a region or a country raw materials or finished goods, it saves the associated regional biocapacity in own territory, which they can then use for other purposes. However, the service must be provided elsewhere. Different Äquvalenz and income factors can bind there both more and less biocapacity. The biocapacity is a form of capital, and can be globally increased or decreased depending on the type and extent of land use also. A region that uses more biocapacity than it is available, does this either by importing from other regions or by consumption of the capital of its own region. This disparity is measured by the ecological footprint.

Facts and Figures

  • From 5.5 to 29.2
  • 4.7 to 5.5
  • 3.9 to 4.7
  • 3.0 to 3.9
  • 2.2 to 3.0
  • 1.4 to 2.2
  • 0.6 to 1.4
  • From 0 to 0.6
  • No data

* Ha / person and year

Global Footprint Network Digital Object Identifier
125976
de