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BIODIVERSITY:
SHARING THE PLANET
source: www.ecouncil.ac.cr/rio/
focus/report/english/
footprint/benchmark.htm
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According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, at least 12% of the ecological capacity, representing all ecosystem types, should be preserved for biodiversity protection*.
- So, one can calculate that from the approximately 2 hectares per capita of biologically productive area that exists on our planet, only 1.7 hectares per capita are available for human use.
- These 1.7 hectares become the ecological benchmark figure for comparing people's ecological footprints. It is the mathematical average of the current ecological reality.
- Therefore, with current population numbers, the average footprint needs to be reduced to this size. Clearly, some people may need more due to their particular circumstances - but to compensate others must therefore use less than the average amount available.
- Assuming no further ecological degradation, the amount of available biologically productive space will drop to 1 hectare per capita once the world population reaches its predicted 10 billion.
*This 12% may not be enough for securing biodiversity, but conserving more may not be politically feasible.
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