The Negative Effects of the Rapid Increase in Human Population in the World

Introduction The world population has increased to over six billion people in the last century. This rapid increase is attributed to improvements in social and economic development in the last five decades, which led to improved standards of living. However, the rapid increase in human population has had several negative effects on the world’s resources. In this paper, the negative effects of the rapid increase in human population on the world’s resources will be discussed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Negative Effects of the Rapid Increase in Human Population in the World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Effects on Resources To begin with, increase in human population has negatively affected natural resources in various parts of the world. Natural resources such as forests, wetlands, and wildlife have been destroyed in order to create land for human settlement (Easton 67). Additionally, ther e has been overexploitation of natural resources such as minerals, especially, in countries with poor regulation of the use of natural resources. This has led to land degradation. For instance, abandoned minefields in most parts of Africa have huge trenches and holes, which make it difficult to use the land for other activities (Aggrawal 32). Moreover, increased mining activities have resulted into destruction of wildlife habitats. The rapid increase in human population has led to increased industrial production in nearly all countries. Despite its positive contributions to economic development, industrial production has had severe effects on the environment. In particular, toxic industrial wastes are often discharged into the ambient environment. This has resulted into extinction of several plant and animal species in various ecosystems (Aggrawal 45). Furthermore, industrial production has led to increased emission of greenhouse gases due to the use of fossil fuel in factories and transportation. Consequently, the rate of global warming has increased significantly in the last three decades. Increased industrial production has also resulted into a reduction in the availability of energy. In most countries, the available non-renewable sources of energy such as oil and natural gas cannot meet the energy needs of the ever-increasing population. Food production has also been affected negatively by the expansion of the human population. The amount of fertile land that is available for farming or food production has reduced greatly due to changes in land use. Rapid urbanization has caused a shift in land use from food production to real estate and commercial developments (Easton 71). Additionally, land fertility in most countries has reduced due to the pollution caused by industrial production. Global warming continuous to cause adverse climatic changes, which include draughts, floods, strong wind, and high temperatures. These changes not only endanger the survival of food crops, but also promote the multiplication of pathogens and weeds that destroy crops in the fields.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In response to the declining food production, modern agricultural technologies such as the use of fertilizers and irrigation have been introduced. However, these technologies negatively affect the environment, thereby reducing food production in the long-run. For instance, irrigation leads to overexploitation of natural water sources such as rivers and lakes. On the other hand, scientific research has shown that the use of fertilizers reduces soil quality (Easton 97). Conclusion The rapid increase in human population has severely affected the world’s resources in several ways. These include reduction in food production, overexploitation of minerals, and destruction of various species of animals. In addition, environmental degrad ation has increased. Consequently, the growth rate of the world population should be controlled. Works Cited Aggrawal, Vijay. Environmental Studies . London: Butterworth-Heinneman , 2010. Print. Easton, Thomas. Environmental Studies. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Print. This essay on The Negative Effects of the Rapid Increase in Human Population in the World was written and submitted by user Brady W. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.