Every site has a carrying capacity for structures and human
activity. In ecological terms, the carrying capacity of an ecosystem
is the size of the population that can be supported indefinitely
upon the available resources and services of that ecosystem. Living
within the limits of an ecosystem depends on three factors:
- the amount of resources available in the ecosystem,
- the size of the population, and
- the amount of resources each individual is consuming.
A simple
example of carrying capacity is the number of people who could
survive on a desert island. Their survival depends on how much food
and water they have, how much each person eats and drinks each day,
and how many days until they are rescued. In this example, food and
water are the natural capital of the island. Living within the
carrying capacity means using those supplies no faster than they are
replenished by the island's environment: using the 'interest' income
of the natural capital. A development that is living off the
interest of the site capital is living within the carrying capacity.
A development that is degrading or destroying the ecosystem on which
it depends is using up that capital and is living unsustainably.
Site selection as it relates to the carrying capacity would lead a
designer to choose a site that would result in the least impact on
the land in terms of site disturbance from construction,
stormwater
management controls,
environmentally sensitive area impact and
reduction of permeable surface.
|
|
