Workshop 2006 Ecological Footprint
The Ecological
Footprint is a yardstick developed by two Canadians
to measure our environmental impact in terms
of land area consumed by humans. It tracks how
much individuals, countries or organizations (such
as schools) consume and compares this amount to
the resources nature can provide. In other words, it
shows how much biologically productive land and
ocean area a given population requires to produce
all the resources it consumes and to absorb its waste.
What is the content of the workshop?
Our workshop provides a short introduction to the
Ecological Footprint concept and examines the
land types required to produce resources we use in
our everyday lives. We will compare the ecological footprint of different countries and engage in
activities that encourage students to think of ways to reduce their ecological footprint. Students in Junior High/High School will calculate the land area
needed for their school and its operation.
The closing activity involves the creation of a large
poster that features the students’ “footprints” and
their ideas on how to reduce their impact on the
environment.
