Assessment of the ecological footprint associated with consumption resources and urbanization development in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran

Background: Extensive industrialization and urban development have led to resource scarcity, environmental pollution, and territory destruction. Accordingly, the current study has assessed the effects of urbanization development on consumption resources utilization in Sistan and Baluchestan province using the Ecological Footprint (EF) model.Results: As the results demonstrate, urbanization development has increased people's demand for resources. On the other hand, expanded utilization of resources has increased EF consumption of food and waste. The results of EF transport indicate that increasing population growth and increasing demand for fuel resources have led to decreased resources and increased carbon emissions. Likewise, in this area, most of the carbon released is related to Coal production efficiency, leading to an increase in EF electricity consumption. Finally, EF calculations revealed that the highest per capita EF is allocated to water consumption, increasing in the further years due to population growth.Conclusions: Accordingly, the results indicate that population and economic growth are the main drivers of resource depletion and unsustainability in this area, so according to the direct relationship between population density and increased EF, the population in these areas must be controlled. In addition, policies should be implemented to optimize the industrial structure, economic transformation, and ecological restoration of re-sources, to achieve sustainable use of natural capital and economic growth.