Overpopulation & Green Revolution

Understand overpopulation, Green Revolution, and their environmental effects.

Overpopulation Green Revolution Use the link here to complete the following assignment. Overpopulation Overpopulation is an overabundance of people in a region or country that lacks sufficient resources to provide for them. In Asia, China and India face severe problems caused by overpopulation. Many nations in Africa and in Central and South America have very high birth rates, causing them to experience overpopulation problems as well.Causes of OverpopulationReasons for overpopulation include the following:#1 Religious Beliefs Some religions teach that it is essential to bring children into the world.#2 Cultural Factors Some cultures promote the idea that it is necessary to have large families to carry on the family name and provide for parents in their old age.#3 Economic Factors Some people feel that large numbers of children are necessary to help support the family economically.#4 Lack of Knowledge Many people lack factual information about reproduction and birth control.Overpopulation Concerns1) FOOD SECURITY The world needs to produce at least 50% more food to feed 9 billion people by 2050. But climate change could cut crop yields by more than 25%. The land, biodiversity, oceans, forests, and other forms of natural capital are being depleted at unprecedented rates. Unless we change how we grow our food and manage our natural capital, food security—especially for the world’s poorest—will be at risk.Already, volatile food prices—and the price spikes that can result—are the new normal. When faced with high food prices, many poor families cope by pulling their children out of school and eating cheaper, less nutritious food. This can have severe lifelong effects on the social, physical, and mental well-being of millions of young people. Malnutrition contributes to infant, child, and maternal illness; decreased learning capacity; lower productivity, and higher mortality. One-third of all child deaths globally are attributed to under-nutrition.2) WATER SCARCITY A 2016 World Bank Group report entitled “High and Dry: Climate Change, Water, and the Economy,” notes that “growing populations, rising incomes, and expanding cities will converge upon a world where the demand for water rises exponentially, while supply becomes more erratic and uncertain.” The report states that the freshwater needs of an expanding population that uses more energy and requires the expansion of agriculture to feed it “could reduce water availability in cities by as much as two thirds by 2040” if water management strategies continue as they are today. All of this, according to the report, is affected by climate change which can cause “water-related shocks” where there is very little water in some regions and too much water in others, causing massive flooding. In addition, the report cautions that changes in water availability and variability could lead to migration to places with more fresh water and conflict over freshwater sources, stating that “in a globalized and connected world, such problems are impossible to quarantine.”3) CLIMATE CHANGE Scientists are also concerned about a gradual rise in global temperatures. This phenomenon may be caused by the greenhouse effect, in which warm air becomes trapped in the lower atmosphere. Causes of the rising temperatures that have been observed are the use of CFCs, the burning of fossil fuels, and the destruction of forests. Population growth and globalization have contributed to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions because most processes used to generate the energy needed and the processes for providing food (particularly livestock) for a growing population with greater wealth, generates greenhouse gas emissions.Population Control EffortsSeveral solutions to overpopulation have been proposed, foremost among which is family planning. The governments of some countries actively sponsor birth control programs. The Chinese government, for example, provides birth control information as well as financial incentives to couples who limit their offspring to one child. Throughout the world, however, family planning is difficult to achieve wherever cultural tradition or religious beliefs encourage large families. THE GREEN REVOLUTION THE GREEN REVOLUTIONIncreasing the Food SupplyAfter World War II, population increased greatly around the world, especially in areas outside of Europe and North America. There was concern that the agricultural techniques used in the regions with the greatest population increase would not produce enough crops to keep up with the demand. The Green Revolution was a period from the 1940s to the late 1960s when the production of crops increased drastically as a result of new technological advances such as mechanical equipment, new farming techniques, and chemical fertilizers. The Green Revolution had mixed results. There were benefits for some and disadvantages for others.• Machinery Farmers used machines, especially those powered by gasoline and diesel fuel, to increase yields from their land.• Fertilizer and Pesticides Farmers enrich their soil with fertilizers and eliminated insect pests with pesticides.• New Varieties of Grains and Livestock Scientists developed new, hardier grains and bred livestock that produced more meat or milk. In the 1960s, farmers in developing countries applied some of these methods to increase their production of wheat and rice. Their efforts were so successful that the result was called the Green Revolution. In some countries, such as India and Indonesia, the Green Revolution doubled food output.Limits of the Green RevolutionThe Green Revolution increased the food supply, but it did not solve the problems of world hunger and poverty. In some regions, population is still growing faster than food production. Also, technology has limitations. A region has to have enough water to start with to support new irrigation techniques. Also, irrigation systems, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides cost money that developing nations of the global South do not have. Poorer farmers usually cannot afford these innovations, and some have been forced off their land. DEFORESTATION DESERTIFICATION Deforestation is the destruction of forests, especially tropical rain forests. Deforestation is usually caused by development as nations harvest lumber or clear land to raise crops, graze cattle, or build homes. Some estimate that the world is losing more than 50 million acres of tropical forest each year. Brazil, India, and Indonesia are the nations where forests are disappearing at the highest rate.Effects of DeforestationThe effects of deforestation include changes in local weather patterns, a buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (which may lead to the greenhouse effect), soil erosion, and extinction of certain plants and animals.Global SolutionsOne of the challenges in halting deforestation is that many of the world's great forests are in developing nations. These nations need the income they can receive from making use of forested land. Those who want to save the forests say that the economic needs of developing nations must be balanced against needs of the global population. Many nations gathered to debate these and other environmental problems at the UN-sponsored Earth Summit that was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.DESERTIFICATIONCauses and EffectsDesertification is the changeover from arable land (land that can be farmed) into desert. Desertification is caused mostly by human activity, especially the following:• Overgrazing by livestock such as sheep and cattle eliminates the grasses that hold the soil together to prevent erosion.• Cutting down forests robs the land of another bather to soil erosion. As grass and trees are eliminated, the soil loses its nutrients. Without plant roots to hold the soil, wind erosion removes the fertile topsoil. The land is then unable to sustain plant life. The Sahara in Africa, for example, is expanding at the rate of about 50 miles per year. The expansion of deserts is one cause of famine.Controlling DesertificationMethods to control desertification include restricting livestock (to prevent overgrazing) and the planting of new trees to act as a barrier against erosion. These solutions are difficult to put into practice in developing countries, where farmers try to work as much land as possible. However, new farming methods, including improved irrigation, may help solve the problem. PATTERNS OF GLOBAL MIGRATION Throughout history, people have migrated in pursuit of better ways of life, for more food, and for safety from wars and disasters. Many believe that as a result of the environmental effects of population growth and globalization, there may be even more migrations in the future. People might be migrating from places where desertification has destroyed the land to places where the land is more fertile. They may migrate from places with little fresh water to places where there is much of it, or they may be migrating to escape conflicts caused by others fighting over fertile land and freshwater. A new category of migrant is being called a “climate refugee,” which is a person migrating from a place that has been affected by climate change and that people can no longer live in. Additionally, the gap between rich and poor nations has continued to grow. This rift has led to migration of people from poor regions to wealthier regions. Many immigrants moved in search of better economic opportunities. Others sought freedom from repressive governments.URBANIZATIONUrbanization, the movement of people to cities, is one of the most significant forces of social change, especially in the developing world. Many people have moved to the cities to find jobs and escape the poverty of rural areas. Cities also offer other attractions, such as better health care, educational opportunities, stores, and modern conveniences.POVERTY Many people cannot afford to live in cities. They settle around the cities in shantytowns, areas of makeshift shacks that lack sewer systems, electricity, and other basic services. Crowded conditions often lead to water pollution and other environmental effects. Lagos in Nigeria, Bombay and Calcutta in India, and Mexico City in Mexico are just some of the cities that have been unable to cope with waves of migration from rural areas. Pros and Cons of the Green Revolution Pros It creates more harvests from a single field. The Green Revolution allows us to produce more food than at any time in history. The Green Revolution makes food access easier for everyone. The Green Revolution made it cheaper to purchase food. Cons It creates the potential for environmental harm. The Green Revolution has led to an increase of artificial fertilizers. New tools and equipment are not readily affordable for the average farmer Fertilizers lead to groundwater pollution Over farming and overgrazing on marginal landsExtended droughts in the Sahel regionWind erosion of topsoilThese situations have all contributed to population growth in Southwest Asia deforestation in South America desertification in sub-Saharan Africa increased reliance on fossil fuels in Asia Which statement can be supported by the information in the graph? The population of the world remained the same from A.D. 1 to A.D. 1650. Most of the world’s population growth took place during the period from 1000 to 1500. The population growth rate decreased during the period from 1650 to 1800. The world’s population tripled between 1930 and 2000. Since the late 1970s, which measure has the Chinese government taken to reduce the effects of overpopulation? supported a policy of forced migration to other nations reduced food production emphasized the teachings of Confucius (K'ung-fu-tzu) imposed a one-child policy that limits family size China implemented a one-child policy.African nations established educational and health care agendas.Latin American nations worked with the United States to reduce drug trafficking.Which conclusion can best be drawn using all of these statements? The governments of different countries reacted in various ways to the same problem. Population explosions took place in some countries during the 20th century. Countries have had to address a variety of economic and social problems. Some countries looked toward other nations to help solve their problems. The 20th-century term Green Revolution refers to significant advancements made in the field of electronic communication food production zero population growth biological warfare …While the Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s boosted production enormously and made India self-reliant in food grains, the environmental and social costs were also staggering. In Punjab, where the Green Revolution was most successful, a glut of water brought by large-scale irrigation schemes coupled with high concentrations of nitrates from synthetic fertilizer run-off have impoverished the soil and polluted the water. Production of grains is now falling. Pesticide use in India is also very high, resulting in high levels of pesticide residues present throughout the food chain….— Mira Kamdar, “India’s Agrarian Crisis: An Urgent Opportunity,” December 8, 2006This passage suggests that the gains of the Green Revolution are lessened by the impact of environmental damage transportation investments population growth offshore outsourcing Which condition, in combination with drought, has most directly forced the migration of people out of the southern regions bordering the Sahara? urbanization coastal pollution wildlife tourism desertification The southern edge of the Sahara is expanding in a process called annexation conservation desertification desalination Which global issue is a primary threat to biodiversity in the tropical regions of Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Amazon basin? deforestation oil spills acid rain drought Deforestation, acid rain, and the greenhouse effect are major world problems that indicate a need for cooperation between nations to reduce pollution and environmental destruction the development of mass transit systems in developing nations an increase in the worldwide production of oil a reduction in crop production in some areas of the world