Page 466 - Environment: The Science Behind the Stories

Calculating ecological Footprints

The relationship between the ecological goods and services 1. Calculate the ratio of North America’s per capita fish
that individuals use and the amount of land area needed to consumption rate to that of the world. Compare this ratio
provide those goods and services is relatively well devel- to the ratio of the per capita ecological footprints for the
oped. People also use goods and services from Earth’s oceans, United States, Canada, and Mexico (see Figure 1.12,
where the concept of area is less useful. It is clear, however, p. 32) versus the world average footprint of 2.7 ha/per-
that our removal of fish from the oceans has an impact, or an son/year. Can you account for similarities and differences
ecological footprint. between these ratios?
The table shows data on the mean annual per-person 2. The population of China has grown at an annual rate
consumption from ocean fisheries for North America, China, of 1.1% since 1987, while over the same period fish
and the world as a whole. Using the data provided, calculate consumption in China has grown at an annual rate of
the amount of fish each consumer group would consume per 8.9%. Speculate on the reasons behind China’s rapidly
year, given the annual per capita consumption rates, for each increasing consumption of fish.
of these three regions. Record your results in the table.
3. What ecological concerns do the combined trends of
human population growth and increasing per capita fish
Annual consumption consumption raise for you? What role might you play in
North contributing to these concerns or to their solutions?
America China World
Consumer (24.1 kg per (31.9 kg per (18.4 kg per
group person) person) person)
You
Your class
Your state
United
States
World
Data from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
2012. The state of world fisheries and aquaculture: 2012.

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