Population and Environmental Resources - Class X

Even with the absence of market and exchange economy, only the introduction of agriculture enabled the steady growth of population. In this period, the development of agriculture and livestock ranching encouraged spread of population from Mediterranean and South-West Asia to  Central Asia, China, India and even in far east Asia.

Population explosion in urban centers around the world is expected to rise demand for food.  In order to meet an increased demand in growing cities, the system by which food is produced, processed and delivered needs to be changed and there should be an increase in the food supply.

With the increase in population, the increasing need for space is also turning out to be an area of concern. With desperate need for land for agricultural, industrial and most importantly urban needs to contain cities and their growing population, a direct action that we have come to recognize as “Deforestation” occurs. Deforestation in simple term means the felling and clearing of forest cover or tree plantations in order to accommodate agricultural, industrial or urban use. It involves permanent end of forest cover to make that land available for residential, commercial or industrial purpose.

Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically occurring in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas.

Desertification is a major environmental issue that threatens approximately one-third of the Earth's land surface, particularly in dryland areas.