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1.3.3.3. Bioproductive areas
The world's bioproductive land area is estimated to be approximately 11.8 billion hectares
(GFN, 2022b). Based on the IUCN classification, the NFA lists five productive land types,
reflecting six land use categories, namely: cropland, grazing land, fishing grounds, forest land,
and built-up areas (Wernert, 2007; Kitzes et al., 2008; Udhe, 2009; Borucke et al., 2013). For
the sixth use category, carbon sequestration, the EF does not dedicate an exclusive area,
assuming that all carbon uptake is applied to forest land, thus avoiding double counting (Lin
et al., 2016).
Each biologically available and required area providing products and services needed by a
given population are defined by the GFN as follows:
1.3.3.3.1.
Cropland
It represents the available land to grow agricultural products including crops, livestock feed,
aquaculture fish feed, oils and rubber. The GFN considers croplands to be the most biologically
productive of all land types. The NFA uses FAO area and production statistics for more than
70 major crops to calculate this land (Kitzes et al., 2007, GFN, 2018). The biocapacity of crop
areas cannot be exceeded by demand or production EF, as they are permanently labored and
harvested (Lin et al., 2009; Borucke et al., 2013).
1.3.3.3.2.
Grazing land
For this category, the EF assess livestock energy requirements (Ewing et al., 2009, 2010).
Grazing land includes all grasslands used to feed animals, including cropped and wild
grasslands (Ewing et al., 2010; Borucke, 2013). The productivity of these areas is based on the
primary production data for tropical, temperate, and arid grasslands published in the
Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change report (Monfreda et al., 2004). Thus, the area of
pasture required by a livestock product (meat, dairy, wool) is calculated using the amount of
grassland needed to meet the total feed requirements of that product (Kitzes et al., 2007).
This category is the most complex as it considers several components including the market
supply of animal feed (e.g. Fish meal, fodder).
1.3.3.3.3.
Forest land
These are the average areas of land required to supply forest products, such as wood for fuel
and construction and wood derivatives (wood pulp for paper) harvested annually (Monfreda
et al., 2004; Ewing et al., 2009; 2010; Lin et al., 2016).
The GFN also allocates to this category the task of absorbing a specific amount of carbon
dioxide generated from fossil fuel combustion (Wernert, 2007; Ewing et al., 2009, 2010). It is
noteworthy that the carbon uptake area is the largest component of the ecological footprint
as most activities generate this waste (Kitzes et al., 2007; Ewing et al., 2009, 2010).
1.3.3.3.4.
Fishing area
The fishing areas are the aquatic ecosystems (marine and inland waters) required to
sustainably support a country's annual primary production and catch of marine and
freshwater products (Lin et al., 2016; WWF, 2016; Ewing et al., 2009; 2010). The estimate of
these areas is based on the principle of the maximum sustainable catch of fishery products,
1.3.3.3. Bioproductive areas
The world's bioproductive land area is estimated to be approximately 11.8 billion hectares
(GFN, 2022b). Based on the IUCN classification, the NFA lists five productive land types,
reflecting six land use categories, namely: cropland, grazing land, fishing grounds, forest land,
and built-up areas (Wernert, 2007; Kitzes et al., 2008; Udhe, 2009; Borucke et al., 2013). For
the sixth use category, carbon sequestration, the EF does not dedicate an exclusive area,
assuming that all carbon uptake is applied to forest land, thus avoiding double counting (Lin
et al., 2016).
Each biologically available and required area providing products and services needed by a
given population are defined by the GFN as follows:
1.3.3.3.1.
Cropland
It represents the available land to grow agricultural products including crops, livestock feed,
aquaculture fish feed, oils and rubber. The GFN considers croplands to be the most biologically
productive of all land types. The NFA uses FAO area and production statistics for more than
70 major crops to calculate this land (Kitzes et al., 2007, GFN, 2018). The biocapacity of crop
areas cannot be exceeded by demand or production EF, as they are permanently labored and
harvested (Lin et al., 2009; Borucke et al., 2013).
1.3.3.3.2.
Grazing land
For this category, the EF assess livestock energy requirements (Ewing et al., 2009, 2010).
Grazing land includes all grasslands used to feed animals, including cropped and wild
grasslands (Ewing et al., 2010; Borucke, 2013). The productivity of these areas is based on the
primary production data for tropical, temperate, and arid grasslands published in the
Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change report (Monfreda et al., 2004). Thus, the area of
pasture required by a livestock product (meat, dairy, wool) is calculated using the amount of
grassland needed to meet the total feed requirements of that product (Kitzes et al., 2007).
This category is the most complex as it considers several components including the market
supply of animal feed (e.g. Fish meal, fodder).
1.3.3.3.3.
Forest land
These are the average areas of land required to supply forest products, such as wood for fuel
and construction and wood derivatives (wood pulp for paper) harvested annually (Monfreda
et al., 2004; Ewing et al., 2009; 2010; Lin et al., 2016).
The GFN also allocates to this category the task of absorbing a specific amount of carbon
dioxide generated from fossil fuel combustion (Wernert, 2007; Ewing et al., 2009, 2010). It is
noteworthy that the carbon uptake area is the largest component of the ecological footprint
as most activities generate this waste (Kitzes et al., 2007; Ewing et al., 2009, 2010).
1.3.3.3.4.
Fishing area
The fishing areas are the aquatic ecosystems (marine and inland waters) required to
sustainably support a country's annual primary production and catch of marine and
freshwater products (Lin et al., 2016; WWF, 2016; Ewing et al., 2009; 2010). The estimate of
these areas is based on the principle of the maximum sustainable catch of fishery products,