Description: Biocapacity refers to the ability of an ecosystem to regenerate resources and provide environmental services sustainably. This concept is fundamental in the field of sustainability, as it measures the Earth’s capacity to produce renewable resources and absorb waste, such as carbon dioxide. Biocapacity is generally expressed in global hectares and is used to assess the health of ecosystems and the pressure that human activities exert on them. An ecosystem with high biocapacity can support a higher level of exploitation without compromising its regeneration capacity, while one with low biocapacity can quickly degrade if subjected to excessive exploitation. This concept is crucial for understanding the relationship between human development and environmental conservation, as it helps identify whether we are living within the limits of the resources that the planet can offer. Biocapacity is also related to the ecological footprint, which measures human impact on nature, and their joint analysis can help formulate more effective policies for the sustainable management of natural resources.
History: The concept of biocapacity began to take shape in the 1990s when methods were developed to measure the capacity of ecosystems to regenerate resources. In 1996, the Global Footprint Network introduced the term ‘biocapacity’ as part of its work on the ecological footprint, seeking to establish a quantitative relationship between human demand for resources and the Earth’s capacity to provide them. Since then, biocapacity has been used in environmental and sustainability studies to assess the impact of human activities on ecosystems.
Uses: Biocapacity is primarily used in environmental research and sustainability policy formulation. It allows governments and organizations to assess the health of ecosystems and the sustainability of resource use practices. It is also applied in environmental education to raise awareness about the importance of living within the planet’s resource limits. Additionally, it is used in urban planning and natural resource management to ensure that human activities do not exceed the regenerative capacity of ecosystems.
Examples: A practical example of biocapacity can be seen in sustainable forest management, where the amount of timber that can be harvested without compromising forest regeneration is measured. Another case is the use of biocapacity in agriculture, where the amount of crops that can be produced without depleting the soil is assessed. Additionally, some cities use biocapacity indicators to plan their growth and development, ensuring that they do not exceed the capacity of local ecosystems.
