Social Metabolism and Biodiversity

Socio-metabolic research investigates societies’ extraction of raw materials and energy from the environment, their transformation into products, biophysical trade flows, the accumulation of societal material stocks (buildings, infrastructures, long-lived products), biophysical aspects of consumption, and releases of emissions and wastes to the environment. Resource flows through society are associated with pressures on ecosystems and biodiversity. Approximately three fourths of the earth’s land are more or less intensively affected by human activities related to social metabolism. While biomass extraction through agriculture and forestry require most area, other aspects of social metabolism also have substantial impacts.