Conservation
of Resources
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Moving Toward
Sustainability:
Reducing
Our Ecological Footprint
Introduction | Invitation | Exploration | Explanation | Taking Action | Conclusion
During our exploration of each previous lesson, we have learned about many of the factors that contribute to the ongoing destruction of our environment. In our final lesson, we will make a holistic appraisal of the impact that each of has on the natural world around us. We will begin by estimating the human impact, or ecological footprint, that each of us leaves on our planet. This footprint measures what how much of nature we consume. It shows how much productive land we use in order to produce all the resources that we consume and absorb all the wastes that we produce.
The earth currently provides an average of 5.5 acres of bioproductive space for each person on the planet. Each acre represents about a football field worth of space. While this may seem like a lot, consider that on this little piece of land you have to grow the plants, feed the cows, sheer the sheep, build the house, toss the trash, and any thing else needed to support your lifestyle. But if our planet is to be sustainable and provide for our children and grandchildren, then we must learn to live within our ecological limits.
Do you think that you're currently living within your 5.5 acres of the earth? In this activity we will calculate our ecological footprints, compare them with each other, and discuss what actions could be taken.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this
lesson, you should be able to:
1) recognize the amount
of bioproductive space that is currently available to each
person
2) calculate your
biological footprint
3) identify ways that
the size of these footprints can be reduced
Invitation:
How big would you estimate your ecological footprint to be? Predict the number of acres that you think are required to support your current lifestyle. Discuss and compare your predictions with your lab partners.
Compared to others
in the world, do you think you that you have a larger or
smaller ecological footprint? How do you think
you compare with your American or Russian
counterparts? Discuss your ideas and feelings about
this with your lab partners.
Top
Exploration
Now it is time to
take off our shoes and get out the measuring tape . Use the
link below to calculate your ecological footprint. If
time and facilities permit, each person should complete this
process. If not, a few people can take it and you can
use the data to determine an average size ecological
footprint for the class.
After completing
your calculations, compare your results with your lab
partners as well as others in the class. Then compare your
results to those from other nations by going to the
following link(s).
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As you make these comparisons, please complete the following questions:
1. According to your own footprint calculations, how many earths would be necessary to support a planet full of people with your current lifestyle? (your footprint in acres/5.5)
2. How many acres does the average American consume? The average Russian?
3. What is the average ecological surplus/deficit produced by members of your own country?
4. Do the majority of countries on the list have ecological deficits or surpluses?
5. What
implications could this data have in regards to the long
term health and sustainability of our planet?
Top
Explanation
In analyzing the data, you may have found that many countries live on footprints larger that their own ecosystem can support. At the present time, our global ecological footprint is about 35 percent larger than our global productive capacity. As a result, our natural resources are being gradually depleted. Many experts think that this depletion is due largely to the fact that the wealthy quarter of the human race consumes about three quarters of all the world's natural resources.
Food for thought: For every 200 million people in Country X who consume 3 times the allowable space of 5.5 acres, there must be 200 million people in Country Y who consume only one third of the allowable space. Otherwise, our consumption of resources will rapidly exceed the earth's production capacity. Such comparisons naturally foster discussion and debate regarding the rights of individuals to claim their fair share of the earth's resources. Use the questions below to stimulate a class discussion/debate regarding issues of environmental equity. After debating these issues, you'll be asked to post your opinion on this matter to the Eco-Connections Bulletin Board.
Questions to discuss:
1. Should certain individuals be accorded a larger proportion of natural resources as a result of their positions, occupations, status or wealth within their respective societies? If so, describe how these differing proportions might be distributed.
3. Since we seem to have a global shortage of bioproductive land, do you think that each person on the planet should be entitled to an equal earth share (5.5acres)? Explain your answer.
After discussing
these questions and this topic with your group members and
classmates, it is time to post your opinion on this matter
to the Eco-Connections Project Forum.
As a group or an individual, write a thoughtful one or two
paragraph statement that states your position in regards to
question two above.
Taking Action
Whatever your opinion is in regards to an equal distribution of resources, each of us can take simple actions in order to reduce our environmental impact on the Earth. As the final activity in this lesson, you and your partner will investigate and then choose one practical action that can be taken to decrease the size of our ecological footprints. After making your choice, you should promote the value of such behavior by creating and presenting a poster, bumper sticker, or a commercial that will convince others to do likewise.
To find examples of
eco-friendly actions, click on the following
link.
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Conclusion
Our worldwide environmental rallying cry has become, "Think Globally, Act Locally". In this lesson and others we have explored and discussed how our individual actions at home can have global consequences. If we desire to improve the environmental quality and equity of our planet, each of us should consider reducing our ecological footprints.