1.2 Environmental tolerance

1.2 Environmental tolerance

1. Resource : population debate

   • Malthus.... the Malthusian trap
     • Resource growth increases same amount each year. Whereas population growth is exponential. Malthus says that, population will grow but then fall when it surpasses the resource growth. We will always end up with Just enough resources for population. The main determinates of population is food supply.
       • A time of prosperity (good harvest, increase in value of endowments etc.) will cause the population to grow
         • Unlucky thing happens (drought, decrease in endowment value) or population grows too large
           • People die so population falls
             • Just enough resources for population
     • Pros
       • It is simple. It demonstrates the situation in developing in countries. The horn of Africa proves it works. Logical.
     • Cons
       • It is dated, created before industrial revolution. Doesn't reflect what is happening in developed countries.
   • Effects of population on resources
     • Jobs- more competition for high pay job, but higher demand for industrial work
       • Healthcare- pressure on healthcare system. More staff funding and hospitals needed
         • Education- higher demand for teaching staff. Overcrowding in schools
           • Housing- more needed= job opportunities. Decrease in quality
             • Water and Food- higher demand= resources stretched= war, conflict, starvation
               • Pollution- levels increase, burning more for more energy
             • countryside and habitats destroyed, possible endangerment
       • Industry jobs= more fossil fuels releases= more pollution
   • Esther Boserup... theory of intensification
     • Boserup states that when population outgrows resources, instead of dying, human survival instinct will kick in. People will Intensify in order to meet the demands of the new larger population
     • Pros
       • It explains what has happened in more developed countries. It takes into account human instinct, and also is up to date, considering the advances in technology.
     • Cons
       • Arguably only works in the short term- the world is a finite resource, only so much it can give so much.

2. Case Studies

   • Malthus case study
     • Horn of Africa.
       • Food crisis, due to drought , poverty, food prices etc. But also due to population growth
         • e.g. in Kenyan population size increase by 2.6% a year
         • Food production must increase from 2.2 bill to 3 bill from 2007-25
         • Poorests mems of society spend 50-70% of income on food
   • Boserup case study
     • PASA Bangladesh
       • Rice-fish farms
         • Rice & fish grown in same field, fish provide oxygen and act as fertiliser and pesticide for rice.
           • Previously under-nourished impoverished famers, now get balanced diet from one piece of land.
   • Moving from Malthus to Boserup
     • Rwanda
       • 16% children underweight. 21% families-> poor food consumption. Pressure on farm sizes exerted by population growth. Variable climate = increased vunrability
         • Malthus..
       • Intensifying...
         • Creating village settlements, more effective than scattered homes. 7% of national budget on agriculture. Crop intensification project, adding fertilisers and better machinery.