Contact

What is an Ecological Footprint?

Grade Level: 
12

An ecological footprint is how much land and water area a human population uses to provide all it takes from nature. This includes the areas for producing the resource it consumes, the space for accommodating its buildings and roads, and the ecosystems for absorbing its waste emissions such as carbon dioxide. By measuring the Footprint of a population—an individual, city, business, nation, or all of humanity—we can assess our pressure on the planet, which helps us manage our ecological assets more wisely and take personal and collective action in support of a world where humanity lives within the Earth’s bounds.

Learn more about ecological footprints and find your ecological footprint at the Global Footprint Network

Cut logs image by author BriYYZ via Wikimedia Commons.

Have a different answer or more to add to this one? Send it to us.

View Citation

You may need to edit author's name to meet the style formats, which are in most cases "Last name, First name."

Bibliographic details:

  • Article: What is an Ecological Footprint?
  • Author(s): Dr. Biology
  • Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
  • Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
  • Date published: May 16, 2017
  • Date accessed: September 11, 2024
  • Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/questions/what-ecological-footprint

APA Style

Dr. Biology. (2017, May 16). What is an Ecological Footprint?. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved September 11, 2024 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/questions/what-ecological-footprint

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

Dr. Biology. "What is an Ecological Footprint?". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 16 May, 2017. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/questions/what-ecological-footprint

For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/04/

MLA 2017 Style

Dr. Biology. "What is an Ecological Footprint?". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 16 May 2017. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 11 Sep 2024. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/questions/what-ecological-footprint

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
A harvested log, image links to Top Questions page

See more top questions

Be Part of
Ask A Biologist

By volunteering, or simply sending us feedback on the site. Scientists, teachers, writers, illustrators, and translators are all important to the program. If you are interested in helping with the website we have a Volunteers page to get the process started.

Donate icon  Contribute

 

Share to Google Classroom