Long-term trends, natural capital, and inclusive wealth

On the topic of long term trends and inclusive wealth:

Human welfare has increased considerably since the industrial revolution as indicated by an increase in per capita wealth, life expectancy and education (consider the Human Development Index (HDI) that Steve Polasky mentioned in the last session). Watch this spectacular 4 min video to visualize the dramatic increase in human health and wealth. http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/200_years_in_4_minutes.php

How well do we understand the costs to ecosystem services and life support systems that our well-being imposes? Several approaches have been taken. For example, Vitousek et al 1986 estimated more than two decades ago that 40% of global energy captured year from the sun every year, or net primary productivity (NPP) is co-opted by humans (the same amount as is consumed by animals and decomposers combined). The more of the total NPP that humans use directly, the less there is for all other biological activity and ecosystem services. Tilman et al 2002 examined the impact of the projected doubling in global food demand for the sustainability of food production and of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem services.

Can we estimate an "efficiency frontier" (sensu Polasky et al 2008) at local, regional or global scales for human NPP use that maintains well-being and leaves sufficient NPP for ecosystem services?