Lecture 3: Overpopulation

By
Miss V Tsheleza
Overpopulation
• Overpopulation is an undesirable condition where the number of
existing human population exceeds the carrying capacity of Earth.
Malthusian’s Theory
• In 1798, Thomas Malthus published a short but revolutionary work called “An
Essay on the Principle of Population.”
• In that essay, Malthus states that future population growth would be determined
by two facts and one opinion.
• The facts were that food is necessary for survival and that men and women would
continue to produce offspring.
• His view is that if the population is not restrained by war, famine, and disease,
population growth will occur exponentially.
• He also argues that agricultural production of food could only grow arithmetically.
• The overall assumption is that population growth will quickly grow beyond food
production, leading to food shortages and famines.
Malthus Continues
• Malthus’ theory has not come to fruition, yet, due to technological advances in
agriculture (fertilizers, insect and drought resistance, and better farming techniques).
• Some discredit Malthus because his hypothesis is based on a world supply of resources
being fixed rather than expanding.
• Humans can expand the quantity of food and other resources by using new
technologies to offset the scarcity of minerals and arable land.
• Thus, we can use resources more efficiently and substitute scarce resources with new
ones.
• Even with a global human population of 7 billion, food production has grown faster
than the worldwide rate of increase (NIR).
• Better growing techniques, higher-yielding, and genetically modified seeds, as well as
cultivation of more land, have helped expand food supplies
Overpopulation
It is a value judgment that reflection an observation that a an
environment is unable to support its present population.
The population exceeds the carrying capacity of an area.
It may be caused by growth in population or by reduction in capacity.
Overcrowding is a reflection of a number of people an area can
support on a sustained basis given the prevailing technology.
Cont…
Resources are considered when evaluating whether the ecological
niche is overpopulated.
These resources include clean water, clean air, food, shelter, warmth
etc.
The rapid increase in human population over the past two centuries
has raised major concerns that human are beginning to overpopulate
the earth.
The population has been growing continuously since 1400.
Causes of Overpopulation
• Decline in the death rate
• Better medical facilities
• More hands to overcome poverty
• Technological Advancement in Fertility Treatment
• Immigration
• Lack of Family Planning
Effects of Overpopulation
More garbage especially solid waste.
More air pollution from factories.
Depletion of energy resources
More pesticide use.
Accelerated loss of nutrients on the soil.
Habitat destruction for wildlife.
What can be done to Combat
Overpopulation?
• any groups who advocate for population control focus on:
-Changing cultural attitudes that keep population rates high (or low)
-Providing contraception to least developed countries (LDC)
-Helping countries study population trends by improving census counts
-Empowering women and emphasizing gender equality
This can be achieved by:
Train and educate the people of developing countries so that they
can pursue industrialization.
Managing existing natural resources sustainably
Demonstrate to people how their natural resources can be used to
generate income.
Consider means of financing industrialization efforts.
Educate the people in developing countries about agriculture.
Cont…
Educate people about effects of overpopulation
Provide information on birth control.
• Better education
• Tax benefits or concessions
• Knowledge of sex education
Self Evaluation
• Define the term overpopulation
• Briefly discuss the Malthusian Theory.
• Malthus is regarded as a false prophet, briefly explain what he didn’t
realise on his forecasting.
• Mention and discuss any 2 causes of overpopulation.
• Mention and discuss any 2 solutions to overpopulation.