Topic 8.4

Question 1

Define carrying capacity

Answer 1

the maximum number of a species or ‘load’ that can be sustainably supported by a given area.

Question 2

Why is estimating the carrying capacity of an environment for a given species problematic in the case of human populations?

Answer 2

• Humans use a far greater range of resources than any other animal so it is not just a case of working out what we eat and drink and what space we need for a house.
• we also substitute resources with others if they run out. we may burn coal instead of wood, use solar energy instead of oil.
• Resource use varies from individual to individual, country to country. Money buys stuff so the more money there is available the more demand there tends to be for resources.
• we import resources
• developments in technology

Question 3

How would ecocentrists try to change human carrying capacity?

Answer 3

• some try to ‘drop off the grid’ meaning they become self sufficient to varying degrees - use solar cells for their electricity, use rainwater and grey water recycling for their water supply, grow their own food.

Question 4

How would technocentrists try to change human carrying capacity?

Answer 4

• may argue that the human carrying capacity can be expanded continuously through technological innovation and development. ‘we shall always grow enough food, have enough water. It is just a matter of being more efficient and inventive.’

Question 5

How can humans reduce their environmental demands and thereby increase human carrying capacity?

Answer 5

Through reduce, reuse, recycling, remanufacturing and absolute reductions in energy and material use.

Question 6

What is an ecological footprint?

Answer 6

the area of land and water required to support a defined human population at a given standard of living.
it is a model used to estimate the demands that human populations place on the environment.

Question 7

When does the EF show the unsustainability of a population?

Answer 7

Where the EF is greater than the area available to the population, this is an indication of unsustainability as the population exceeds the carrying capacity of the population.

Question 8

What is the link between the EF and lifestyle choice?

Answer 8

• A person who walks or takes public transportation has a smaller footprint than someone who commutes alone fifty miles to and from work in a car (especially if that car only gets 15 miles to the gallon)
• A vegetarian has a smaller footprint than someone who eats a lot of meat
• A house or office park with a small amount of lawn has a smaller ecological footprint than a house or office park with acres of lawn treated weekly with chemicals and water.

Question 9

EF UAE

Answer 9

The UAE’s ecological footprint is very high. It was almost 12 global hectares in 2006. The reason behind this is because the UAE’s economy is rapidly expanding and has also become resource dependent. Because of rapid urbanization within the UAE, the population has increased which increases the demand for energy, water and food. As well as this, the UAE imports over 80% of its produce and the 20% of the food the UAE produces is using a more substantial amount of land than is needed.

Question 10

EF the Philippines

Answer 10

On the other hand, the Philippines has a much lower ecological footprint. This is mainly due to the fact that they themselves produce more than 40% of the country’s food, unlike the UAE where the majority of food it imported. However, similar to the UAE, with the nation’s rapid population growth, the country’s ecological footprint has increased slightly, because of the increasing demand for produce.