[INFORMATIVE] The Effects of Overpopulation on the Environment

The Effects of Overpopulation on the Environment

By: Julia Nemchenko

Abstract
The term “overpopulation” is defined by Oxford Reference as “the situation that arises when the rapid growth of a population, usually a human population, results in numbers that cannot be supported by the available resources, such as space and food.” Within animal communities, this situation can effectively be managed through the standard predator-prey relationship, where organisms higher up in the food chain consume those lower down. This type of population control prevents various species from reproducing exponentially to the point where their environment can no longer sustain them properly. It is a well-established fact that continuous exponential growth is impossible — at some point, there will no longer be enough resources available to support the entire population. For example, if a higher consumer species loses a predator and starts to exhibit significantly accelerated population growth, there will be increased pressure on a species lower on the food chain to sustain that higher population. As the number of individuals in the higher population increases, the lower population experiences a drastic decline, and if enough individuals from it are consumed, that species could face extinction in that particular area. Once the higher consumer species loses its food source, its growth will plateau and eventually decline as more individuals die from starvation. Humans, unlike other animals, have developed methods to sustain their ever-growing population through both natural and unnatural means, which has allowed our species to expand significantly beyond what would have been possible otherwise. However, this does not imply that the human population can continue to grow exponentially indefinitely. Eventually, there will come a point when, despite all efforts to maintain growth, there will no longer be sufficient space for the vast number of humans on planet Earth. What happens then? This question can be examined from various perspectives, but one particular focus is often overlooked: what is already happening? As the human population continues to increase and increasingly drastic measures are taken to create sufficient space for all, how severely does this impact the planet as a whole? More importantly, can anything be done to stop or reverse the extremely negative consequences that humanity's growth has imposed on the environment, before it is too late?

The Data:
Every year, the human population increases approximately 83 million people globally. This number continues rise incrementally as more individuals are born; despite extremely high death rates, particularly among those living in poverty the birth rate remains significantly higher. To put this into perspective, the current average median age of a single human being is 30 years old, with exactly 50% younger and 50% older. That being said, the average life expectancy is around 73 years for men and 83 years for women. This means that the average male on this planet is only 41% of the total life expectancy, while the average woman has only lived 36% of her total life expectancy. This shift in numbers indicates a population that continues to grow. (“Population Facts -Compassion International”)

Surprisingly, a specific trend can be noted: in countries such as India and Ethiopia, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and regions of Asia and Africa where death rates are significantly affected by poverty, disease, and increasing birth rates also tend to increase exponentially. This high birth rate may be attributed to the levels of poverty, which create a strong need for income. In countries where child labor is legal, having more children can translate to having more workers in the family. This statistic tips the scale considerably and raises ethical questions regarding the quality of life associated with such high populations. Because of the current crowding in these areas, along with the fact that a significant portion of the populations in these countries are children, the spread of disease remains a persistent issue that may only worsen in the coming years. This problem of overpopulation unnecessarily puts multiple lives at risk. Due to the overwhelmingly high birth rates, a startling 25% of the Earth's population is currently under 15 years of age. However, at the same time, global fertility is projected to decline from 2.5 children per woman to 2. While this may not seem like a drastic change based on these values alone, it alters the projected world population from a staggering 10 billion to a slight deficit of only 8.03 billion. (“Population Facts - Compassion International”)

So, why is this drop in fertility seen as such a problem? Unfortunately, many are working to eliminate this decline, as numerous economies would be adversely affected by such a change. This raises the question: is this a worthy sacrifice? Is the damage done to the environment truly so great? Is overpopulation really such a significant problem?

The True Effect
Sustainability is a significant that the world is facing right now, largely due to the effects of overpopulation. The increased consumption of various resources leads to numerous problems, and shockingly, this overconsumption is primarily the fault of wealthy, developed nations. Yet, it is the developing nations that end up suffering the most. Some of the biggest problems facing the world today are directly attributable to human beings, including but not limited to deforestation, environmental degradation, solid waste, crop shortages, loss of biodiversity, and more. Deforestation occurs when entire forests are either cut down or burned to the ground permanently, in order to open up new land for human use. Because of this practice, a large majority of the Earth’s forests have been irreversibly destroyed, necessitating legal protection for remaining forests. Deforestation leads to reduced photosynthesis, resulting in less oxygen and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Additionally, the soil is often so depleted by the end of the deforestation process that it can no longer be used for farming. Deforestation must occur more frequently as more space is needed to accommodate the growing human population, often at the expense of other species. The cleared lands can typically only be used for construction, which presents a completely different set of problems. Construction occurs for various reasons: whether it involves building dams or similar structures, creating factories and stores to enhance the marketplace, or assembling houses for people to live in, this practice often destroys any signs of life in the surrounding area. Dams have long been a point of controversy; by obstructing the natural flow of water, they create obstacles for many animals and plants that rely on these resources for survival. Consequently, the downstream areas of bodies of water, where the flow is blocked by the dam, begin to experience the die-off of organisms. On a different note, factories are a significant cause of pollution. Most processes within factories release carbon dioxide and toxic chemicals into freshwater bodies, rendering them unsafe for consumption and poisoning the wildlife that depend on those waters. Even without this aspect, the construction of factories and stores often degrades the environment, contributing artificial pollutants like dust and concrete to the ecosystem. This practice covers land that could have served as habitats for many organisms. Even the construction of houses, which occurs on a smaller scale, is still extremely detrimental to that land and the organisms that inhabit it. As the population continues to grow, more houses are being built, leading to greater destruction of land. Environmental degradation is, by definition, a broad subject, encompassing all the waste and pollution released into ecosystems. For instance, oil spills cause severe ocean acidification when the chemicals in the oil react with those in the water, removing hydrogen and depleting oxygen levels. For most sea creatures, even slight changes in water acidity can be fatal. Changes in acidity can also lead to significant soil erosion, as even minor alterations can have a major impact on the surrounding environment. “Solid waste,” in this context, refers to manmade waste that has a considerable impact on the environment. One of the most recognized examples of this type of waste is plastic, of which hundreds of millions of tons are produced every year. While plastic may be efficient for humans, it is extremely hazardous to other species. There are several reasons for this: plastic is not recyclable in a meaningful way. The creation of plastic is a one-time process; it cannot be effectively recycled, as the quality diminishes with each cycle until it becomes unusable. This means that once plastic is made, it remains on Earth indefinitely. With a growing population, more plastic must be produced to meet demand. However, there is an even bigger issue: plastic will never break down completely. At most, the particles will continue to fragment into smaller sizes, resulting in what are known as “micro plastics.” While this may not sound alarming, micro plastics are much easier to ingest and can have devastating effects on wildlife. Animals may consume them, expecting to receive nutrients, but instead end up ingesting plastic. In fact, plastics and micro plastics are among the leading causes of animal deaths today. Due to rising demand, an overwhelming amount of plastic is being manufactured. Where does it all end up once discarded? One prominent location is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a section of the ocean where years of waste have accumulated; currently, this area of garbage is practically a manmade island composed entirely of plastic. These plastics disintegrate and harm marine life, while those that do not break down remain in a mountain of waste for years. Additionally, a global crisis of crop reduction is unfolding, driven by two main causes. First, the high cost of living has led many farmers to leave rural areas in search of better economic opportunities. Fewer working farmers result in decreased crop production, and with a consistently growing population, this poses an extreme issue. Moreover, most of the remaining crops are directed to the most developed regions of the world, where countries can afford to pay more, leaving developing, impoverished nations with even less food. For these individuals, opportunities to earn more money, such as through fast fashion, draw working farmers away from the fields, further diminishing food availability. Loss of biodiversity is another significant factor. Many species are becoming threatened, endangered, or extinct, primarily due to pollution and hunting. Pollution is a well-known fatal threat, and numerous species are succumbing to its effects. As more individual members of a species are killed, entire populations can become extinct, potentially leaving insufficient numbers to sustain the species.

Additionally, both legal and illegal hunting have dire consequences: legal hunting for food increases the number of animals killed to meet the demands of a growing population, while recreational and illegal hunting places even more strain on ecosystems. The majority of these issues are only increasing in severity as the world population continues to rise. Greater demand necessitates larger supplies to maintain stability and prevent a decline in the human population. While a larger population may be beneficial for economic reasons, it is detrimental to the world as a whole, and the environment will continue to suffer.

Minimizing Damage
While not much can be done to address the issue of overpopulation, some of its devastating effects can be minimized in a variety of different ways.

1. The creation of natural parks and reservations. This practice specifically forbids certain lands, as well as the animals living on them, from ever being the target of hunting and/or construction. This has actually been quite successful: many threatened and endangered species are moved to these lands, giving them the chance to live and start to rebuild their population in a place where they will be kept safe. Additionally, national park areas do remain untouched by human alteration, which keeps them extremely healthy and undisturbed. However, this practice still requires further development, as very few areas and species actually qualify for the benefits of this kind of legal protection.

2. Cleanup efforts in the oceans. Multiple programs are beginning to arise that are specifically targeted at reducing the effects of plastic on the environment: companies will go out into the open waters and clean up garbage, including from The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and will utilize new, improved technologies to recycle it as best as possible. Smaller efforts exist, too, such as organizations that will team up to collect garbage from various beaches and then recycle everything that they collect. Through the combined effort of many different people, there are slowly starting to be more programs for the reversal of solid waste pollution, programs that may eventually end up saving the planet. However, these programs are still extremely new, and are able to repurpose the plastic at a much slower rate than what is being manufactured and thrown away. There is still a very long way to go before this could be seen as a legitimate way to solve the problem of plastic waste.

Conclusion:
Overpopulation and its devastating effects on the environment are significant issues—far more severe than many could ever begin to imagine. Various efforts are underway to mitigate these effects, but with the rapid pace of environmental destruction, these initiatives cannot adequately address the problem. While individuals can take steps to reduce pollution and conserve the Earth’s resources on both small and large scales, there remain numerous obstacles to completely resolving the issue. For now, people can continue to do as much as possible, and through collective action, meaningful change may eventually occur. If everyone contributes as much as they can, a solution to the environmental effects of overpopulation may not be as far-fetched as it seems.

Works Cited
“Population Facts - Compassion International.” Www.compassion.com, www.compassion.com/poverty/population.htm#:~:text=The%20world. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.

Kolkowska, Natalia. “How Does Overpopulation Affect Sustainability? Challenges and Solutions.” Earth.org, 15 May 2023, earth.org/overpopulation-sustainability/. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
“Overpopulation” Overview.” Oxford Reference, www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100258153#:~:text=The%20situation%20that%20arises%20when,such%20as%20space%20and%20food. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.