Essay On Population Growth

Human Population Growth and the Environment

The term population can be defined as a group of individuals, belonging to the same species, living in an area. Population growth is a growing concern currently as it is thought to put pressure on the limited natural resources such as water, food and fuel, necessary for survival. It is estimated that for every five children born a second, there are two people dying at that very second, putting the total population increase at approximately 2.5 people per second. Since the evolutionary transition of early human ancestors from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens, the human population has seen exponential growth owing to adaptations to evolutionary pressures, development of technology and agriculture (Cunningham & Cunningham, 2011).

Historical pattern of growth of the worldwide population since human origin

According to Kemp (2004), the human population growth can be divided into five phases since its origin. The first phase was the high stationary phase where the growth rate was thought to be near zero. The average human life span was low with many individuals dying before reaching reproductive maturity due to climatic change, predator attacks, diseases and dearth of food; however, the human race has been fertile enough to just compensate for the high mortality rate. The second phase was the early expanding phase that was characterized by high fertility and low mortality. Such a shift was seen during the agricultural innovations sometime around 8000 BC, where the increased food production was responsible for healthier populations with greater life span. During the industrial revolution in the 1700s, increased sanitation and economic factors led to decrease in birth rates and comparative...

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...s have been undertaken to reverse the negative impact of human population pressure and technological impact. Slow reduction in the growth rate would be a possible solution to sustained development in the future.

Works Cited

Comín, F. A. (Ed.). (2010). Ecological restoration: a global challenge. Cambridge University Press.

Cunningham, W. P., & Cunningham, M. A. (2011). Principles of environmental science: inquiry & applications (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Hainesworth, D. (2014). Human Origins: The Emergence and Evolution of the Human Species. AuthorHouse.

Kemp, D. D. (2004). Exploring environmental issues: an integrated approach. London: Routledge.

Simon, E. J., Reece, J. B., Dickey, J. L. (2013). Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology, 4th Edition [VitalSource Bookshelf version 6.5]. Retrieved from http://online.vitalsource.com/books/9781256902089