The ecological footprint of a society measures the environmental impact of human activities in terms of the resources consumed and the waste produced. It quantifies how much land and water area is required to sustain the population's lifestyle and absorb its waste. The ecological footprint helps assess sustainability and determine whether a society's demands exceed the capacity of the planet’s ecosystems. A larger footprint indicates greater pressure on natural resources, potentially leading to depletion, habitat loss, and environmental degradation, prompting the need for sustainable practices.