1. To present literature searches as background to the Ecological Footprint and
biocapacity accounting from a critical approach to contextualise and justify the
investigation.
2. To select a few key criticisms in a case study application to demonstrate the
limitations and consider potential solutions based on Footprint Calculator
outputs.
3. To consider the possible contributions that the Ecological Footprint and
biocapacity accounting could make as a sustainability metric, despite its
limitations.
These aims are foundational to this brief and provide a basis for its structure.
In the next chapters, the existing literature on the Ecological Footprint (Chap. 2)
and biocapacity (Chap. 3) will be delineated to provide enough background information to readers, expanding on the theoretical and conceptual frameworks already
presented in this chapter. A detailed case is presented for Costa Rica, including the
methods (Chap. 4), based on farmers’ survey-interviews completed in the study area.
The findings are considered in comparison to the country’s Ecological Footprint and
biocapacity (Chap. 5). Error analysis pertaining to the case study application as well
as solutions and lessons learned, including a sensitivity analysis based on the
Footprint Calculator, form the bulk of Chap. 6. Finally, in Chap. 7, research
limitations appear along with the contribution, recommendations, and suggestions
for future research as part of the conclusion.
1.6 Conclusions
Amid the theoretical framework covered, this background information sets the stage
for the remainder of the content. The conceptual framework presented in this first
chapter is foundational for the remainder of this brief. In particular, the acronyms
(included in this chapter) along with a glossary of the important terms are relayed as
comprehensively as possible, including some important equations and data sources
(that will be revisited later, in Chap. 6). Defined concepts included here offer a
reference point for later chapters, including that of ecological overshoot. At the
onset, however, it is important to understand that the Ecological Footprint and
biocapacity accounting methodology encompasses two variables, that of consumption set against production at various scales.
20
1 Introduction
biocapacity accounting from a critical approach to contextualise and justify the
investigation.
2. To select a few key criticisms in a case study application to demonstrate the
limitations and consider potential solutions based on Footprint Calculator
outputs.
3. To consider the possible contributions that the Ecological Footprint and
biocapacity accounting could make as a sustainability metric, despite its
limitations.
These aims are foundational to this brief and provide a basis for its structure.
In the next chapters, the existing literature on the Ecological Footprint (Chap. 2)
and biocapacity (Chap. 3) will be delineated to provide enough background information to readers, expanding on the theoretical and conceptual frameworks already
presented in this chapter. A detailed case is presented for Costa Rica, including the
methods (Chap. 4), based on farmers’ survey-interviews completed in the study area.
The findings are considered in comparison to the country’s Ecological Footprint and
biocapacity (Chap. 5). Error analysis pertaining to the case study application as well
as solutions and lessons learned, including a sensitivity analysis based on the
Footprint Calculator, form the bulk of Chap. 6. Finally, in Chap. 7, research
limitations appear along with the contribution, recommendations, and suggestions
for future research as part of the conclusion.
1.6 Conclusions
Amid the theoretical framework covered, this background information sets the stage
for the remainder of the content. The conceptual framework presented in this first
chapter is foundational for the remainder of this brief. In particular, the acronyms
(included in this chapter) along with a glossary of the important terms are relayed as
comprehensively as possible, including some important equations and data sources
(that will be revisited later, in Chap. 6). Defined concepts included here offer a
reference point for later chapters, including that of ecological overshoot. At the
onset, however, it is important to understand that the Ecological Footprint and
biocapacity accounting methodology encompasses two variables, that of consumption set against production at various scales.
20
1 Introduction