Resources

• What are the main topics covered in Unit 4.2 of Human Geography?

  Population and resources, differences in population, resource sustainability, under and overpopulation
• How has the world population size changed in the 20th century?

  It has dramatically increased but unevenly distributed across different regions
• What was the Green Revolution?

  It was a period in the 1960s that introduced high-yielding varieties of cereals to increase food production
• What is hydroponics?

  It is the science of growing plants without soil using nutrient-rich water
• What does biotechnology involve?

  It involves the manipulation of living organisms through genetic engineering to produce useful products
• How do improved fertilizers and pesticides impact food supplies?

  They provide almost limitless opportunities to enhance food production
• What is the significance of the balance between population numbers and resources?

  It is more important than just the total number of people in an area for sustainability
• What is the definition of optimum population?

  It is the number of people that returns the highest standard of living when working with available resources
• What is overpopulation?

  It is when there are too many people relative to the available resources and technology
• What is underpopulation?

  It is when there are insufficient numbers of people to utilize available resources efficiently
• Give an example of a country that experiences overpopulation.

  Ethiopia
• Give an example of a country that experiences underpopulation.

  Canada
• Who proposed the Malthusian Theory?

  Thomas Malthus
• What is the main premise of Malthusian Theory?

  Population will grow faster than food supply, leading to a crisis
• How does Malthus describe the rates of population and food supply growth?

  Population increases geometrically while food supplies grow arithmetically
• What is a Malthusian Crisis?

  It occurs when population growth exceeds food supply, leading to famine and poverty
• What are preventative checks according to Malthus?

  They are measures to control birth rates, such as delayed marriage and abstinence
• What are positive checks in Malthusian Theory?

  They refer to factors that increase the death rate, such as famine and disease
• What is carrying capacity?

  It is the maximum capacity of a region to support people with food
• What is population ceiling?

  It is the maximum number of people that a given region can sustain
• What evidence supports Malthus' Theory?

  Examples include famines in Africa and desertification in the Sahel region
• What are some limitations of Malthus' Theory?

  It is too simplistic and does not account for food surplus or technological advancements
• What is Boserup's Theory?

  It suggests that necessity drives innovation, leading to increased food supply with population growth
• How does Boserup view population?

  She views population as a resource that can drive technological advancements in food production
• What is the relationship between population policies and human rights?

  Population policies can infringe on human rights and individual freedoms
• What are pro-natalist policies?

  Policies that encourage higher birth rates in countries with insufficient population
• What are antinatalist policies?

  Policies that aim to lower fertility rates in countries with high population growth
• What are some reasons for implementing pro-natalist policies?

  To counteract population decline, insufficient workforce, and aging population
• What are some reasons for implementing antinatalist policies?

  To manage high fertility rates and insufficient resources for the population
• What are the key differences between pro-natalist and antinatalist policies?

  • Pro-natalist: Encourage higher birth rates, often in countries with declining populations.
  • Antinatalist: Aim to reduce birth rates, often in countries facing overpopulation.
• What are the social and moral issues associated with population policies?

  • Violation of human rights
  • Removal of personal choice
  • Interference with religious beliefs
  • Impact on lifestyle and culture
• What are the main factors leading to population sustainability issues?

  • Imbalance between population and resources
  • Environmental degradation
  • Economic challenges
  • Migration pressures
• What are the implications of population growth on resource management?

  • Increased demand for food and resources
  • Potential for resource depletion
  • Need for technological innovation
  • Challenges in equitable resource distribution
• How do Malthusian and Boserup's theories differ in their views on population growth?

  • Malthus: Pessimistic, believes population growth leads to resource scarcity.
  • Boserup: Optimistic, believes population growth drives innovation and resource increase.