DO NOW: 1. How do you think people in the United States would feel about the government limiting the number of children a family could have? 2. Would people feel differently if the limit was one child, two children, or ten children? Explain your answer.

Challenges of Overpopulation

Population growth affects the global ecosystem Greater demand on the space needed to sustain large numbers of people Greater demand on the space needed to sustain large numbers of people Greater demand on resources Greater demand on resources MineralsMinerals FuelsFuels foodfood Less land for other species Less land for other species

Remember, ALL life on Earth is interconnected!!! Increases use of resources in one country can affect other countries- countries with growing populations rely on resources of other nations Increases use of resources in one country can affect other countries- countries with growing populations rely on resources of other nations Pollution from one country can affect a neighboring country Pollution from one country can affect a neighboring country

Health Problems Increase in disease– people living in closer contact with each other Increase in disease– people living in closer contact with each other Malnutrition Malnutrition Poor hygiene Poor hygiene Lack of medical facilities Lack of medical facilities

Something to think about….. Overpopulation magnifies harmful effects to the environment!!!! Exhaust from one car may not be very harmful to the environment BUT exhaust from several million cars do. Exhaust from one car may not be very harmful to the environment BUT exhaust from several million cars do. Clearing land to build one house in an area with undisturbed land does not seem too harmful BUT building a house on the last available piece of land has a huge impact on the environment Clearing land to build one house in an area with undisturbed land does not seem too harmful BUT building a house on the last available piece of land has a huge impact on the environment

Controlling Population size Is controlling birth rate an option? 1. Controlling how many children you can have. 2. Educating people about birth control

Controlling Birth rate Convincing people they should have fewer children is difficult Convincing people they should have fewer children is difficult Forcing people to limit the size of their families that most people find unethical and unacceptable Forcing people to limit the size of their families that most people find unethical and unacceptable Many religions do not agree with birth control Many religions do not agree with birth control Many societies, large number of children are important for helping to work the family farm or take care of aging parents. Many societies, large number of children are important for helping to work the family farm or take care of aging parents. Cultural Beliefs are Difficult to change!!!!

What happens when birth rate falls below death rate? Aging and declining population Aging and declining population Decreased number of: Decreased number of: Soldiers- threaten military strengthSoldiers- threaten military strength Taxpayers- threaten economic strengthTaxpayers- threaten economic strength

Technology Advances in modern technology can increase the resources available to humans. Advances in modern technology can increase the resources available to humans. New sources of renewable energy New sources of renewable energy New strains of crops developed (genetic engineering) New strains of crops developed (genetic engineering) Scientific breakthroughs Scientific breakthroughs

Carrying Capacity The number of Individuals of a certain species the environment can support The number of Individuals of a certain species the environment can support Environmentalists feel there is a limit to the number of people that can live comfortably on Earth. Earth’s ecosystems can support a finite number of people!!!!

1. How can overpopulation affect the global ecosystem? 2. What are some obstacles to controlling population size? 3. What are some problems that nations with declining populations face? 4. How might technology remedy some of the problems of overpopulation? 5. Why do some scientists feel that technology cannot solve the problems of overpopulation?