Question

Describe the historical pattern of growth of the worldwide human population since our origin. Include in this historic overview the changes that have happened technologically, medically, culturally and nutritionally to result in major population changes over time. Relate the growth of the human population to our ecological footprint and explain the idea of limits to population growth known as the carrying capacity. Relative to carrying capacity, what may result from unbridled continued growth of our population? How does the size of the human population contribute to environmental degradation? Why must we take the human population size into account when we attempt to develop environmental restoration projects?

Answer 1

• Population growth is the term used to refer the growth or decline of a specific population . The term is used to denote both positive and negative effects in growth.
• If the population is growing , it means that rate of deaths is lesser than rate of birth .
• During 1000 BC , the world population was estimated to be 300 million.
• Until 1700s the world population was about 700 to 800 million and the population was evolving slowly.
• During this period the life expectancy would be 20 to 40 years. This is due to the absence of medical facilities, proper hygine, contamination , mal nutrition etc..
• From the year 1850's the ratio of births to death started to increase. This shows that the rate of deaths starrted to decrease. This is because people started to maintain certain hygine , food availability , reduced water contamination, sanitation , improved personal hygine etc..
• During this period there was increase in the medical facilities which increased the life expectancy of the individual.
• As the social and economic status of the individual increases, the rate of mortality declines.
• Currently the population growth is slow in developed countries. The population growth is still emerging in developing countries.
• The rate of fertility is high is under developed countries but the rate of mortality is also high .
• This is because they are unable to access medical facilities , unable to get adequate food, poor sanitation etc..
• As the population growth increases, the natural resources are depleted at the fastest rate.
• The resources are getting scarce because there is no time for regeneration .
• It is estimated that around 500 million people emits half of the incraese in the green house gases that too mainly Carbondioxide.
• As the world population increases continuously , it leads to increased use of natural resources.
• It is also estimated that about 10% of the population uses around 60% of the world's natural resources which leads to resource scarcity.
• Due to the enhanced human intervention in the ecosystem , the resources are depleted fast and it is the need for us to restore the ecosystem .
• Human intervention in the ecosystem leads to soil erosion , deforestration , climatic change , habitat fragmentation etc..
• Conservation of ecosystem by the process such as reforestration , focusing on endangered species , reducing the usage of gases that increase the global warming which also reflects the effect of climatic change.
• These are some of the effects of population growth.