HUMAN POPULATION MPHO SEFATSA RHODES UNIVERSITY PSYCHOLOGY (Hons.)

OVERVIEW O Why study human population O World population projections O Population issues O Influence of human population on the planet O Challenges influenced by human population O Possible interventions

HUMAN POPULATION O Carrying capacity - “Ability of an area to sustain a particular number of a population without significant negative impacts.” O Overpopulation - Maximum number increasing carrying capacity

WHY STUDY HUMAN POPULATION O To understand the relationship between population variables:  -social  -environmental  -economic  -geographical

PROJECTED POPULATION O World population:  1990 – 1,633bn  2010 – 6,812bn  2012 – 7bn O 2050: 9, 202, 458, 484

POPULATIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE Figure showing population rates amongst countries

POPULATION ISSUES  Social  Environmental  Economic  Political

HUMAN INFLUENCE ON THE PLANET O Depletion of natural resources O Land degradation O Pollution O Increase poverty O Affects the ability of nature to sustain itself

CHALLENGES O Demand for energy and natural resourses O Food security O Biodiversity loss O Water quality and demand management O Human capacity O Climate change

POSSIBLE INTERVENTIONS O Education O Job creation O Improve water quality O Reduce carbon footprint O Balance the demand for energy O Contraceptive

SUMMARY O Population growth has a negative effect on the environment O Overpopulation poses a lot of threats to the environment, thus there is slight imbalance in the ecosystem. O Implementing practical interventions can help us control population growth to a steady rate