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Population Pressure: Land and Water

Tommy CrosbyHalter Cunningham

Tyler Michael

Population Pressure: Land and Water

Over one third of the world suffers from topsoil erosion and a retreating water table.

Top Soil Erosion

Top Soil Erosion

Lesotho Haiti Mongolia

Desertification

Desertification

Overplowing/Poor crop rotation Overgrazing

Nigeria: from 1950-2007, 4x human pop. increase, 17x livestock pop. increase

Leads to topsoil erosion that exceeds soil recharge

Water Usage

Retreating water table worldwide Directly linked to grain production

Avg. human drinks 4 liters per day, avg. food production requires 2,000 liters per day

Overpumping of fresh water from aquifers

Food Production

Farmers losing water to cities Water table loss inhibits production “Importing grain is the most efficient way to

import water”

Food, Fuel, and Energy

Price of grain is tied to the price of oil Should grain be used to fuel cars or people? Using grain as fuel requires more land devoted to

production Leads to increased deforestation and greater water

usage Increased food price prevents organization from

provided the same amount of aid as in years past

Widespread Conflicts

Over land, water, food, and oil Sudan, Nigeria, Mali, Rwanda, India, Egypt,

Ethiopia, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq

Environmental Refugees

Millions displaced in sub-Saharan Africa Somalia produces political, economic, and

environmental refugees Latin American countries experiencing economic

and environmental struggles that influence migration

Summary

Population Pressure: Land and Water

“The choice is between a future of rising world food prices, spreading hunger, and growing

political instability and one of more stable food prices, sharply reduced dependence on oil, and

much lower carbon emissions…During this century we must deal with the effects of trends— rapid

population growth, advancing deserts, and rising seas— that we set in motion during the last

century. Our choice is a simple one: reverse these trends or risk being overwhelmed by them.”