Population and Environment in the Developing Countries (original) (raw)
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A Review of the Relationship between Poverty, Population Growth, and Environment
The Pakistan Development Review
Deterioration of natural resources during the past few decades has come to prominence as one of the most important current global issues [Desta (1999)]. Increase in population density in ecologically fragile areas and consumption of nonrenewable natural resources at high rates is seen as one of the leading causes of this deterioration [Grigg (1991)]. At present, in some of the developing countries, the pollution of air, water and soil has reached life-threatening levels [Gilbert (1991)]. In many of these countries population pressures, socio-political conditions and economic arrangements have resulted in massive natural resource depletion [Ahmed and Mallick (1999)]. In a developing country, poverty is the major factor that distorts the population transition in response to food supply [Aziz (2001)]. Pethe (1982) suggested that the best way to reduce poverty is to bring fundamental changes in society. The magnitude of this task can be seen readily, if we look at some of the basic dime...
This review paper is intended to exhibit the interplays between environmental change and rapid population growth in developing countries. In the course of discussion, the impacts of rapidly population growing on the environment have been discussed, and evidence, from various parts of the world have been traced. Studies on the impacts of population pressure on environment have been critically reviewed. It is revealed that all across the developing countries, farm size is shrinking as farmers continue to subdivide holdings among their children. In countries such as Malawi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Haiti, Nepal and Bangladesh, population growth rates are high, and the non-farm sector is still in its early stages of development. Demographic pressure, land scarcity, and land fragmentation drive greater rural vulnerability and poverty, marked by decreased food security, inadequate response to such natural disasters such as drought or pest infestations, weakened resilience to shocks, and poor health. It is not just the supply of food, fodder, and fuel wood but the resource base itself and the lives that depend upon it are being affected. The evidences pinpoints that man through his non-sustainable production and consumption patterns, is placed at the heart of environmental changes. However, contradictory view, and practices are also in place that the population growth has positive impacts environmental restoration and improvements, while other evidences show insignificant effect of population on the environment. This contradicting scenario puts scholars in argument, and still need further research. Hence, it would be a blind generalization to draw conclusion from this relationship alone, rather, another factor that acts beyond population pressure must also be considered to justify the impact of population on environmental changes.
Development, Population and Environment: Status and Impact on Society in Developing country
Compound growth in population and in particular, production and consumption have some environmental outcomes such as climate change, air and water pollution, deforestation, loss of habitat and biodiversity, soil erosion, per capita decline in food availability, shrinking of water supplies, and social differences in the distribution of environmental goods and bad.
POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
ABSTRACT: Population in India has been regarded as not only the root cause of many of our economic problems but has also severely affected the environmental conditions in India. Population increased very fast in the post independence period and It has added to all types of pollution namely air, water noise and at the same time has disturbed the cycle of rain, has prolonged the summer season in one way or the other. It has destroyed our biodiversity to a large extent, soil erosion has taken place, has added to the increased demand for energy resulting in overall temperature to rise. In fact, rising population and an urge to develop more to meet its needs has resulted into the emergence of such situation. No doubt, we have to control the population growth in a strict manner but the solution does not lie only with controlling the population. The environmental degradation in India has reached to such an extent that a direct and immediate attack on the environmental pollution has to be made. It is important that government is not going to do everything nor we can expect much from the government mainly because of lack of funds and at the same time a lack of political will and vested political interest in the solution of the problem. KEY WORDS: Environment, Pollution, Population, Poverty etc.
POPULATION AND ITS EFFECT ON ENVIRONMENT
The rapid increase of human population is putting an incredible strain on our environment. While developed countries continue to pollute the environment and deplete its resources, developing countries are under increasing pressure to compete economically and their industrial advancements are damaging as well. The demands that this growth places on our global environment are threatening the future of sustainable life on earth. One of the largest environmental effects of human population growth is the problem of global warming. Some scientists fear that global warming will lead to rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions in the future. In order to support the growing population, forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Humans also continue to put a great demand on the natural resources of our planet. Many non-renewable resources are being depleted due to the unrestrained use of fuel and energy. Many parts of the world also suffer from a shortage of food and water. The growth of population puts larger demands on our already limited resources. The environment on earth is suffering from the growth of global population. The depletion of resources and biodiversity, the production of waste, and the destroying of natural habitat are serious problems that must be addressed in order to ensure that life on earth will be sustainable throughout the next century.
Interaction between Population and Environmental Degradation
The Pakistan Development Review, 2005
Economic development and population growth in the poor areas of the earth is a subject of an essential concern for the environmental economists. Developing countries are facing and suffering by the serious problem of high population growth which is causing environmental degradation. A rapidly growing population exerts pressure on agricultural land and raises demand for food and shelter which encourages the conversion of forest land for agricultural and residential uses, now we know that growing population is a major cause of air, water, and solid waste pollution. The world population was 2.52 billion in the year 1950, which increased to 6.06 billion in 2000 and is likely to reach 8.3 billion by the year 2030. While the population size will remain almost stationary in the economically developed part of the world, around 1.2 billion, during the same period population is likely to grow in the less developed regions. This is likely to pose challenges for the economic growth and pressure...
Population Growth and Environmental Degradation in India
2006
The present paper examined the relationship of population to the environment and with growing population, poverty and urbanization the environment is degrading. Conducted an analysis of changes and trends over last fifty years. The study reveals that the country's population growth is imposing an increasing burden on the country's limited and continually degrading natural resource base. The natural resources are under increasing strain, even though the majority of people survive at subsistence level. Population pressure on arable land contributes to the land degradation. The increasing population numbers and growing affluence have already resulted in rapid growth of energy production and consumption in India. The environmental effects like ground water and surface water contamination; air pollution and global warming are of growing concern owing to increasing consumption levels. The paper concludes with some policy reflections, the policy aimed at overall development should ...