Question

How can the ecological footprint of the entire human population be estimated?

• A. Existing population density and multiply this by area of habitable land
• B. Calculating the ratio of population growth rate and carrying capacity
• C. Add up all ecologically productive land on the planet and divide by the population
• D. Population growth prediction by the logistic model

Hint:

Ecological footprint = total biologically productive area population; it measures per-capita resource demand in global hectares.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Concept
Ecological footprint: a measure of humanity's demand on Earth's biocapacity.

Step 2: Meaning
The ecological footprint quantifies the biologically productive land and sea area required to produce the resources consumed and to absorb the waste generated.

Step 3: Analysis
(A) Population density $\times$ habitable land gives geographic distribution, not ecological demand. (B) The growth rate/carrying capacity ratio relates to demographic sustainability, not footprint. (C) Total ecologically productive land $\div$ population gives the per-capita biocapacity (ecological footprint benchmark). (D) Logistic model predicts population growth, not resource demand.

Step 4: Conclusion
The ecological footprint is estimated by dividing total ecologically productive land by the population --- option (C). Final Answer: (C)