The biocapacity represents the bulk capacity of every living being on Earth to regenerate. It is measured in terms of area, generally global hectares, which represents the Earth’s average biological productivity and absorptive capacity for waste. The global biocapacity increases with a larger biologically productive area. This is a good way to measure how much does population live above the regenerative capacity of the planet. Therefore, if the biocapacity factor of a country is 4, this means that in order to let the planet’s area to produce and absorb what it’s being consumed, the planet’s area needs to be 4 times the current one.

Source: Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity – European Commission