Overpopulation
Overpopulation
Overpopulation
A. Definition/Description
Growing advances in technology with each coming year has affected humanity in many ways.
One of these has been the ability to save lives and create better medical treatment for all. A direct
result of this has been increased lifespan and the growth of the population. In the past fifty or so
years, the growth of population has boomed and has turned into overpopulation. In the history of
our species, the birth and death rate have always been able to balance each and maintain a
population growth rate that is sustainable.
Since the time of the Bubonic Plague in the 1400’s, the growth of population has been on a
constant increase. Between the time of the plague and the 21st century, there was been hundreds
and thousands of wars, natural calamities and man-made hazards. However, none of these have
made a dent on the population. Developing nations face the problem of overpopulation more
than developed countries, but it affects most of the Earth as of now.
In the Animal overpopulation, often causes growth in the populations of predators. This has the
effect of controlling the prey population and ensuring its evolution in favor of genetic
characteristics that render it less vulnerable to predation (and the predator may co-evolve, in
response).
In the absence of predators, species are bound by the resources they can find in their
environment, but this does not necessarily control overpopulation, at least in the short term. An
abundant supply of resources can produce a population boom followed by a population crash.
Rodents such as lemmings and voles have such cycles of rapid population growth and
subsequent decrease. Snowshoe hares populations similarly cycled dramatically, as did those of
one of their predators, the lynx.
The introduction of a foreign species has often caused ecological disturbance, as when deer and
trout were introduced into Argentina when rabbits were introduced to Australia, and indeed when
predators such as cats were introduced in turn to attempt to control the rabbits.
Some species such as locusts experience large natural cyclic variations, experienced by farmers
as plagues.
Human overpopulation occurs when the ecological footprint of a human population in a specific
geographical location exceeds the carrying capacity of the place occupied by that group.
Overpopulation can further be viewed, in a long term perspective, as existing when a population
cannot be maintained given the rapid depletion of non-renewable resources or given the
degradation of the capacity of the environment to give support to the population.
The term human overpopulation also refers to the relationship between the entire human
population and its environment: the Earth, or to smaller geographical areas such as countries.
Overpopulation can result from an increase in births, a decline in mortality rates against the
background of high fertility rates, an increase in immigration, or an unsustainable biome and
depletion of resources. It is possible for very sparsely populated areas to be overpopulated if the
area has a meagre or non-existent capability to sustain life (e.g. a desert). Advocates of
population moderation cite issues like quality of life, carrying capacity and risk of starvation as a
basis to argue against continuing high human population growth and for population decline.
Scientists suggest that the human impact on the environment as a result of overpopulation,
profligate consumption and proliferation of technology has pushed the planet into a new
geological epoch known as the Anthropocene.
Causes of Overpopulation
Immigration: Many people prefer to move to developed countries like US, UK,
Canada and Australia where best facilities are available in terms of medical,
education, security and employment. The end result is that those people settle
over there and those places become overcrowded. Difference between the number
of people who are leaving the country and the number of people who enter
narrows down which leads to more demand for food, clothes, energy and homes.
This gives rise to shortage of resources. Though the overall population remains
the same, it just affects the density of population making that place simply
overcrowded.
Lack of Family Planning: Most developing nations have large number of people
who are illiterate, live below the poverty line and have little or no knowledge
about family planning. Getting their children married at an early age increase the
chances of producing more kids. Those people are unable to understand the
harmful effects of overpopulation and lack of quality education prompts them to
avoid family planning measures.
Effects of Overpopulation
Degradation of Environment: With the overuse of coal, oil and natural gas, it
has started producing some serious effects on our environment. Rise in the
number of vehicles and industries have badly affected the quality of air. Rise in
amount of CO2 emissions leads to global warming. Melting of polar ice caps,
changing climate patterns, rise in sea level are few of the consequences that we
might we have to face due to environment pollution.
1. Water supply. Water is one of the basic elements of live, and it is needed to preserve
the balance of every ecosystem. It cools down and cleanses the environment and is used
by plants and animals to carry out vital functions. As human population increases, so
does the consumption of water. In the past fifty years, the per capita availability of fresh
water has decreased by one third.* Fresh water supply is a problem in most of the
developing countries, especially those located in arid climates such as in Africa, South
America and Asia.
2. Water pollution. The problem with water is not only overconsumption, but also
pollution. "More than 95% of urban sewage in developing countries is discharged
untreated into the nearest waterway or field."* The main contributors to water pollution
are factories and open mines, discarding waste water with heavy metals, toxic substances
and solid waste, which are virtually impossible to purify. The situation is even worse
when it comes to ocean exploitation and pollution.
3. Soil Degradation. Population growth results increases the demand for food
production. Since the arable land in many of the overpopulated regions is limited, farmers
begin to cultivate dry, hilly, nutrient-poor areas that are not very suitable for farming.
Exploiting such lands makes them easily susceptible to erosion and loss of nutrients.
4. Deforestation. The search for more farmland causes other damaging agricultural
practices such as slash-and-burn cultivation. Basically, a forest area is burned and
converted into pasture, but due to poor soils, it looses its productivity in about three
years.* This initiates a vicious circle which results in the deforestation of large areas,
mostly in tropical regions.
D. Possible Solutions
The possible solutions about Overpopulation are the following:
E. References