Long-term trajectories of the human appropriation of net primary production: Lessons from six national case studies

摘要: The ‘human appropriation of net primary production’ (HANPP) is an integrated socio-ecological indicator measuring effects land use on ecological biomass flows. Based published data for Austria, Hungary, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain and UK, this paper investigates long-term trends in aboveground HANPP discusses relations between population, economic growth, changes land-use intensity their influences national trajectories. During early stages industrialization, population growth increasing demand drive land-cover change, often resulting deforestation, which raises HANPP. later stages, industrialization agriculture boosts agricultural yields faster than grows, stable or even declining Technological change improves area-efficiency (biomass provision per unit area), thereby decoupling from However, these efficiency gains require large inputs fossil fuels agrochemicals pressures ecosystems emissions. Our findings corroborate argument that alone cannot – as sometimes suggested be used a simple measure carrying capacity. Nevertheless, analyses trajectories combination with accounts material energy flows can provide important insights into sustainability use, helping to understand limits growth.