My Ecological Footprint

Polinar, May-Ann T.

EnS10-G MTh (1:00-2:30)

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

Rationale/ Background, Interpretation and Results, Applicable Strategy

|| An Assessment of Personal Ecological Footprint ||

|| In Partial Fulfillment for EnS10 GE Course ||

I. RATIONALE/ BACKGROUND

An ecological footprint measures the impact of an individual on the environment, based on the amount of resources we consumes and the waste we produces. The factors determining the ecological footprint of an individual or a population are based on the amount of land required for crops, animal grazing, fishing, housing and transportation, as well as carbon dioxide emissions.

Ecological footprint provides a valuable insight into the carrying capacity of the Earth

and human appropriation of resources i.e. human demand and nature's supply. It illustrates the reality of living in a world with finite resources and is a measure of ecological sustainability. It provides a final figure in terms of the total land area (hectares) which is required to support an individual, city, region, country or the entire population of the world. By measuring the ecological footprint of a population -- an individual, city, business, nation, or all of humanity -- we can assess our pressure on the planet, which helps us manage our ecological assets more wisely and take personal and collective action in support of a world where humanity lives within the Earth's bounds.

If usage is too high, resources will be consumed too rapidly.

II. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION / INTERPRETATION

A. Results and Discussion:

Here are the results after calculating and measuring my ecological footprint. This was actually an assessment of personal ecological footprint, not a household assessment.

The first category of the assessment is FOOD. This is about the quantity of food I consume that's relatively easy to determine. (Please refer to the tables) Notice, the biggest amount of my food was spent for flour, rice, noodles and cereal products; next, the vegetables; then, bread and bakery products. Since, I'm only staying in a dormitory, away from my parents, I always eat outside (e.g. the school canteen, carinderias...), since we're not allowed to do cooking inside. I am pro.rice - meaning, I prefer eat more rice and cereal products, and vegetables, rather than meal dishes.

Somehow, the assessment's 2nd category is HOUSING. While, the 3rd category is TRANSPORTATION and the 4th category is GOODS.