Lecture 11

Question 1

Population growth from 1950 to 2015?

Answer 1

2.5bn to 7.2bn

Question 2

2015 population growth rates in Europe, Central Asia and SS Africa?

Answer 2

2% in SS Africa

0% in Europe and Central Asia

Question 3

3 main LT environmental impacts of population growth?

Answer 3

Habitat alteration
Soil degradation
Pollution and energy use

Question 4

Explain how habitat alteration has a long term impact on environment?

Answer 4

Increase pop -> increase settlements -> clearing of forests and draining of wetlands to create farming lands, also croplands being farmed more intensively

Question 5

Explain how habitat alteration has a long term impact on environment in LEDCs only?

Answer 5

Increase in pop -> increase demand for fuelwood tf decrease in woodlands and forests

Question 6

Explain how soil degradation has a long term impact on environment?

Answer 6

Increase pop -> more farming tf soil erosion due to overgrazing, deforestation and agricultural activity

Question 7

Fact regarding soil erosion?

Answer 7

Over 10% of the worlds land suffers from moderate soil erosion

Question 8

Explain how pollution and energy use has had a long term impact on environment?

Answer 8

increase pop -> increase energy consumption and pollution

Question 9

Define carrying capacity?

Answer 9

Maximum sustainable population at the minimum standard of living necessary for survival

Question 10

Carrying capacity equation?

Answer 10

CC = Q/M

Q = max food output in area (cals)
CC = carrying capacity (no. individuals)
M = min number of cals a human needs to survive

Question 11

Describe the FAO’s analysis of CC?

Answer 11

117 countries in analysis, took into account high medium or low technology levels, potential calorie output for each country calculated then estimated max sustainable population for each country

Question 12

Issues with carrying capacity measure?

Answer 12

• as population increases technology may increase tf CC may too
• at country level CC can be increased via trade
• assumes all cropland is used for food (what about rubber cotton etc)
• uses minimum calories tf no room for improvement
• uses max no people not desirable no

Question 13

Relationship between technology and agricultural PRODUCTIVITY?

Answer 13

Positive

Question 14

Relationship between resource degradation and agricultural GROWTH?

Answer 14

Negative

Question 15

4 ways to reduce population growth?

Answer 15

Increase education and employment opportunities
Increase incomes for poor households
Decrease child mortality tf families tend to have less children
Increase access to family planning