Conversations about the Earth’s population have been raging for decades. These conversations have become even more important because studies show the effects of an increasing population on various aspects of our lives and the planet’s health. The United Nations (UN) understands this, and this is why they designated World Population Day. The UN intends to use this day to discuss the issues associated with a rising population and what we can do about it. Below, we will be looking at some issues associated with it and what we can do.
Deforestation and Loss of Biodiversity
As the population increases, we need more land for houses and activities like agriculture. In most countries, there is not enough viable land for everyone, and this has led to people cutting trees down for agriculture. Deforestation is a serious issue as it can lead to droughts and other adverse weather events, in addition to a loss of biodiversity.
Deforestation has led to the loss of countless animal and plant species, and scientists are worried that we could see a collapse of the entire ecosystem if this doesn’t stop. Governments have to put measures in place to find alternative economic activities and stop deforestation for agriculture. Governments can also provide the necessary resources to increase production in areas already designated for agriculture so there is no need to go into forests for viable farming land.
Increase in Deadly Conflicts
The scarcity caused by the overpopulation and the environmental degradation that follows do lead to deadly conflict as these resources dwindle. We have already seen war over land, water, and energy resources like oil in countries like Nigeria and the Middle East. These conflicts will continue unless we can deal with the growing population. The obvious solution is to find ways to keep the population at manageable levels so that everyone has access to enough resources.
Hunger
There has been a lot of discussion on whether an increasing population causes hunger. While there is a correlation between the two, there is not enough evidence to suggest that the former directly causes the latter. What scientists have found is that land fragmentation and degradation are the main causes of hunger in developing countries. This fragmentation is caused by families that want to ensure everyone has a share of land. Degradation is caused by improper farming practices that damage the soil. Adverse weather phenomena, drought and environmental damage are other causes of hunger and poor food security.
While there is a lot we can do to ensure increased agricultural productivity, we need solutions that can work right now. One is using services like Ria Money Transfer through the Ria Money Transfer app to donate to charities. These charities do a lot of great work in poor countries and because they understand the situation on the ground better than anyone else, this is a viable solution in many cases.
As the population increases, we are experiencing the effects, and they are getting worse. It is worth it to use World Population Day this year as an opportunity to think about what part we can play in reducing these effects and helping those affected.
