Ecological footprint indicators
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The ‘ecological footprint’ is an indicator used for the measurement of the ecological impact on global hectares (gha) for comparison with biocapacity7, which is the regenerative capacity of nature or ‘ecological budget’. In this manner, one can determine whether human living is within the ecological limits of the planet (Ministry of the Environment, 2013).
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Biocapacity and ecological footprint of the MDQ: • Ecological footprint per capita for Ecuador 2011 = 1.94 gha. • Ecological footprint per capita for the MDQ 2011 = 1.77 gha. • Taking into account that the biocapacity per capita for Ecuador in 2011 is 2.39 gha, the MDQ is still within the ecological limits of the country. The largest contribution to the ecological footprint of the MDQ is household consumption (83%), followed by the formation of gross fixed capital (15%) and finally by the government (2%). Infographic 5 shows the percentages of the domestic environmental footprint of the MDQ. At the parish level in the MDQ, the results show that there are regional inequities. The parishes with smaller ecological footprints are rural and have values up to 35% lower than the average (Atahualpa = 35% and Nanegalito = 32%). While parishes with higher values have footprints 45% above the average (Cumbayá and Pomasqui), and achieve results which could be compared with those of developed countries. 7 Humanity’s biocapacity demand is determined by adding all the demands on the productive surfaces of the planet (the area required to sustain the population): cultivated lands, grasslands, forests, fishing areas, urbanized land, and areas of forest for carbon sequestration (carbon footprint).
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Part II
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40% Food
Transportation
Housing
Goods
Services
Infographic 5. Ecological footprint of the MDQ 2011 by household consumption Source: Secretary of the Environment, Climatic Change Team, Ecological Footprint of the MDQ, 2014
Based on these considerations, and taking into account that the ecological footprint is a complex indicator, with several socio-environmental and economic implications, the environmental performance of this indicator is considered to be average. This current performance has generated several fields of action for involving people in reducing the ecological footprint and improving their awareness of Environmental Good Practice (EGP).