Increasing Population Uncertainty Essay - 3470 Words

Increasing Population Uncertainty Carrying capacity is defined as the number of individuals of a certain species that can be sustained indefinitely in a particular area. The Earth’s capacity to support people is determined both by natural constraints and by human choices concerning economics, environment, culture (including values and politics), and demography. Human carrying capacity is more difficult to estimate than some of the standard demographic indicators, like expectation of life or the total fertility rate, because human carrying capacity depends on populations and activities around the world. Human carrying capacity is therefore dynamic and uncertain. Ecologists have often made use of the concept of carrying†¦show more content†¦Many environmental, social, and economic problems either stem from or are increased in magnitude by the overpopulation problem. With an exponentially increasing population, the problems created by overpopulation grow correspondingly. Population growth is out-sp acing growth in agricultural production and it is putting increasing pressure on erodible soils, grazing lands, water, and fuel-wood supplies (Chapman, Peterson, Smith-Moran, 2000). To ensure population stability not only in the increasingly wealthy third-world areas, but also in the industrialized areas, countries and individuals must work together to achieve controlled population growth. The earth does not contain enough resources to indefinitely sustain the current enormous population growth. For instance, there only is a limited area of arable land and living space available to us. China, home to 1.2 billion people or 1/5 the worlds population, is an excellent example of the kinds of problems that arise in an increasingly crowded society. Trying to increase the standard of living of its people, China has industrialized and the economy has grown (Hanson, 1995). This increase in wealth has increased the demand for food in China. The demand is so great that China went from exporting 8 million tons of grain in 1992 to becoming a net importer of 16 million tons of grain in 1994 (China News Digest, 1995). This causes a worldwide grain shortage that raises prices,Show MoreRelatedThe Study of Modernism and Globalization1744 Words   |  7 Pagesby powerful information and communication technologies which has barely begun† (2006:35). Its effects are dramaticall y different depending on geopolitical situations, peoples and countries. For the wealthiest countries it is a source of an ever increasing profit, whether it is culturally, economically, or financially speaking. 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