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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.”