Human Population and Environment: Summary Notes

Population Growth and Environment

  • Population Explosion: A rapid increase in population size due to the difference between birth and death rates.

  • World Population: The total number of humans currently living.

  • Impact of Population Explosion: Affects economy, environment, and human well-being.

Population Characteristics

  • Exponential Growth: Increase by a fixed percentage over time.

  • Doubling Time: Time for a population to double at a constant rate.

  • Total Fertility Rates (TFR): Average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime.

  • Infant Mortality Rate: Percentage of infants who die in a year.

  • Zero Population Growth (ZPG): Births plus immigration equal deaths plus emigration.

  • Male-Female Ratio: Should be balanced; affected by practices like female infanticide.

  • Life Expectancy: Average age a newborn is expected to live.

Causes of Population Explosion

  • Decline in death rate.

  • Rise in birth rate.

  • Migration.

  • Lack of education.

Environmental Impacts

  • Resource Depletion: Increased demand for resources.

  • Pollution: Higher air and water pollution levels.

  • Deforestation: Loss of forests for land use.

  • Climate Change: Increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Social and Economic Impacts

  • Poverty and Hunger: Outpacing economic development.

  • Unemployment: Higher rates due to more job seekers.

  • Strain on Infrastructure: Overcrowding and poor conditions.

  • Social Unrest: Competition for resources.

Health Impacts

  • Increased Disease Spread: Facilitated by higher population density.

  • Mental Health Issues: Strains on resources and social inequality.

National Family Welfare Programme

  • Launched in 1952 as National Family Planning Program, later renamed.

  • Aims include family planning, safe drinking water, and women's welfare.

Environment and Human Health

  • Environmental health involves preventing disease and injury related to interactions between people and their environment.

Role of Technology

  • Information technology, GIS, and satellite information provide up-to-date data on environment and human health.

Databases on the Environment System

  • Includes wildlife, conservation, and forest cover databases.

  • Examples: NMIS, ENVIS, GIS.

Value Education & Human Rights

  • Value education emphasizes ethical considerations in interacting with the environment.

  • Human rights include the right to life, liberty, and freedom of expression.

Factors affecting population growth include decline in death rate, rise in birth rate, migration, and lack of education.