*********Ecological Footprints**********

Have you measured your ecological footprint?  An ecological footprint is a relatively accurate way to measure an individual or a populations impact upon the earth.  It is a tool used by governments, environmental scientists and other professionals as well as individuals and groups concerned with consumption and it's impact upon the natural environment.  According to the glossary in Our Ecological Footprint, by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees, the definition of an eco-footprint is as follows: “Ecological Footprint is the land (and water) area that would be required to support a defined human population and material standard indefinitely”.  To measure  a footprint such things as resource and energy flows, consumption of food, products and resources as well as living space are considered and entered into a calculation.   The main idea is to measure the flow of natural resources into a given economy and finally into a given population.  This allows urban planners, environmental scientists and policy makers and concerned individuals to measure their impact on the earth and take the information into consideration when promoting, providing and planning for sustainability.  Ecological footprint analysis is a relatively new and wonderful tool that can help professionals work towards maintaining natural capital while helping individuals gain insight into their own lifestyles and how they can become more sustainable within them.  To measure your ecological footprint see the website: http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp#   Enlighten the environmentalist inside yourself by discovering what goes into your personal footprint and how you can step a little lighter upon the earth...