Breaking down the Ecological Footprint

In 2020, the world average footprint amounts to 2.5 global hectares per person, compared to 1.6 global hectares of biocapacity.

Grazing land footprint measures the demand for grazing land to raise livestock for meat, dairy, leather and wool products.

Forest product footprint measures the demand for forests to provide fuel wood, pulp and timber products.

Fishing grounds footprint measures the demand for marine and inland water ecosystems needed to restock the harvested seafood and support acquaculture.

Fishing grounds footprint measures the demand for marine and inland water ecosystems needed to resstock the harvested seafood and support aquaculture.

Cropland footprint measures the demand for land for food and fibre, feed for livestock, oil crops and rubber.

Built-up land footprint measures the demand for biologically productive areas covered by infrastructure, including roads, housing and industrial structures.

Carbon footprint measures carbon emissions from fossil fuel buring and cement production. These emissions are converted into forest areas needed to sequester the emissions not absorbed by oceans. It accounts fot forests’ varying rates of carbon sequestration depending on the degree of human management, the type and age of forests, emissions frmo forest wildfires and soil build-up and loss.

Source : Living Planet Report 2022