Kuznet Curve

Page 1

The Kuznet curve states that LEDCs are less likely to have lots of environmental damage as many indigenous tribes will live there and want to protect it. As countries become more developed they are likely to have more environmental damage. i.e. NICs will exploit the environment in order to help them develop leading to maximum resource consumption and pollution. It then reaches a certain point before improvements are seen and conservation strategies are put in place and eco-awareness develops. Development then becomes more sustainable and eosystems survive. This is normally in MEDCs that are more eco-aware and have the money and want to protect their valuable ecosystems

Page 2

Udzunga Mountains National Park: a pristine area

Pressures Include;

rapid population growth fuelled by immigration with many people poor and short of land and employment

Solutions include;

Tree nurseries, fuel efficient stoves and rice husk technology to solve the fuelwood crisis

Agricultural diversification products e.g. bee keeping/poultry and veg farming have provided employment

Non farm projects include establishing microbusiness, promoting ecotourism and improving health and education services

The way to succeed is to foster sustainable development projects for the local people so they can see the long term benefits

Page 3

Masai Mara Game Reserve: a degraded area

Issues include;

Management breakdown leading to decline in state of grassland ecosystems

Park rangers not paid properly and lacked basic equipment

They could do little to stop illegal hunting

Solutions include;

In 2008 the park was taken over by Mara conservation

A $300,000 donation brought 4 new four wheel drive vehicles, repaired many of the roads and paid the rangers

Organisation runs on a non-profit basis but uses 50% of the revenue to build roads and finance anti-poaching patrols

The remaining 50% filters through to local Masai tribes

The support of the Masai people is crucial to the future of the reserve as it requires them to give up the best cattle graxing land in east Africa for the benefits of wildlife. [traditionally nomadic farmers meaning they move their cattle to where best quality grass is. This leads to overgrazing damaging the environment]