Carrying capacity in human-environment interactions: a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Human ecology
• Urban studies

Background:

• The concept of carrying capacity, originating in ecology, is widely applied to human systems.
• Previous research has explored its utility across diverse biological and social contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the carrying capacity literature concerning human-occupied environments.
• To evaluate the underlying approaches, methods, utility, and limitations of its applications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review.
• Identification and analysis of prominent tools: evaluation index systems, ecological footprint analysis, Cifuentes method, multi-objective optimization, system dynamics, fuzzy mathematics, and GIS/remote sensing.

Main Results:

• Carrying capacity research in human contexts rarely addresses strict survival limits.
• Studies often focus on population growth and urbanization impacts on living standards and quality of life.
• The concept is frequently used rhetorically to prompt action against system degradation.

Conclusions:

• Carrying capacity in human environments increasingly incorporates socioeconomic factors and societal tolerance.
• The concept's utility lies in highlighting subjective social constraints and quality of life over absolute physical limits.
• It serves as a strategy to encourage proactive environmental management.