Carrying Capacity Business Definition

Carrying Capacity: A Key Concept in Sustainability

Meaning and Definition

Carrying capacity is a fundamental concept in ecology and environmental science that refers to the maximum number of individuals of a species that an area of land or sea can support without causing environmental degradation or depletion of resources. It can also be defined as the maximum output that a business can produce without exceeding its sustainable limits.

Historical and Conceptual Background

The idea of carrying capacity has been around for centuries, originating from the study of animal populations in natural ecosystems. It was first proposed by the German ecologist Ernst Haeckel in the late 19th century and has since been widely adopted in various fields, including tourism, agriculture, and urban planning.