Land footprint of Dutch consumption, 2010
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The amount of land required for Dutch consumption totalled about three times the surface area of the Netherlands in 2010. About 0.6 hectares was used per person. More than 80% of the land use was abroad. In the 90s the land footprint had increased, but since 2000 the land footprint decreased as a result of decreasing land use for wood.
Most land use is abroad
The amount of land required for the consumption of Dutch residents and the Dutch government was about three times the surface area of the Netherlands in 2010. Over 80% of the land use was abroad. Land use was mainly located in Western Europe, South-America and South-East Asia.(tab Map). Most land use was outside the Netherlands, which means that primarily internationally-focused policy is required to reduce the effects of the Dutch ecological footprint.
Land use for biofuels
The main land use product groups were food (vegetables, dairy and meat), paper and wood. In the 90s the land footprint had increased, but since 2000 the land footprint decreased as a result of decreasing land use for wood. Recently, the land use for biofuels increased. The use of biomass for electricity generation and fuel was still limited, but it is expected to increase depending on the ambitions for a sustainable energy supply (PBL, 2012). (tab per person)
Land use compared to other world citizens
Land use per inhabitant of the Netherlands was about 0.6 ha. This was roughly equal to the global average. This was because relatively intensive production methods were used to meet consumption demand.
Sources
- PBL (2012). Assessment of the Human Environment 2012. The Hague: Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.
Technical explanation
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Reference of this webpage
CLO (2016). Land footprint of Dutch consumption, 2010 (indicator 0075, version 07, ), www.clo.nl. Statistics Netherlands (CBS), The Hague; PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, The Hague; RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven; and Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen.