Natural resources and an optimum human population

Pimentel, David; Harman, Rebecca M.; Pacenza, Matthew; Pecarsky, Jason; Pimentel, Marcia

doi:10.1007/bf02208317

Cited by 148 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…M.C. de Castro urges a consideration of all policies and decisions, which could potentially result in deforestation in light of carrying capacity analyses (PERN, 2003, 4/14), following e.g., Pimentel et al (1994). Some researchers commented on the delicate position of researchers in examining population dynamics related to deforestation.…”

Section: Policy Implications and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population Dynamics and Tropical Deforestation: State of the Debate and Conceptual Challenges

Carr

Suter

Barbieri³

2005

Popul Environ

127

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What is the role of population in driving deforestation? This question was put forth as a discussion topic in the cyberseminar hosted by Population Environment Research Network (PERN) in Spring, 2003. Contributors from diverse backgrounds weighed in on the discussion, citing key factors in the population-deforestation nexus and suggesting further courses of action and research. Participants explored themes of their own choosing, with many coming to the forefront. Scale, time, and placebased effects were cited as areas in need of particular attention. Consumption patterns as the mechanism for spurring deforestation were discussed, drawing attention to the differential patterns associated with urban vs. rural demands on forest resources and land. The applicability of the IPAT formula and the influence of its component parts, affluence and technology, when operating in tandem with population, was debated. The relation of demographic factors to these pathways was critically examined. Institutional and governmental influence, such as infrastructure and policies affecting access and incentives, the valuation of resources, and institutional failures such as mismanagement and corruption emerged as a crucial set of factors. This article synthesizes the critical debates in the population-deforestation literature, makes suggestions for future paths of research, and discussed possible policy and direct action initiatives.

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Section: Policy Implications and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population Dynamics and Tropical Deforestation: State of the Debate and Conceptual Challenges

Carr

Suter

Barbieri³

2005

Popul Environ

127

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The relationships between population and food are well established and have benefited from in-depth scholarly investigation (Bongaarts, 2011;McNicoll, 1984;Pimentel, Harman, Pacenza, Pecarsky, & Pimentel, 1994;Pimentel, Huang, Cordova, & Pimentel, 1997). However, there is no systematic analysis of how urbanisation affects contemporary food insecurity risks or how these potential risks are likely to be mitigated by increases in human development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urbanisation and Food Insecurity Risks: Assessing the Role of Human Development

Szabo

2015

Oxford Development Studies

103

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The phenomenon of rapid urbanisation across the world has become a topic of increased scholarly inquiry. Yet, little attention has been paid to how urban growth affects countries' food security and whether this association is modified by a country's level of development. The present study aims to fill this lacuna by examining the association between urbanisation and food security applying statistical modelling. The analysis uses country-level data, from the World Development Indicators and the United Nations' World Urbanization Prospects. Using a Food Insecurity Risk Index (FIRI) as the outcome variable, the results confirm a significant negative impact of urban growth on food security at the country level. It further finds that rapidly urbanising countries with the lowest levels of human development are most at risk of food insecurity.

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“…While a given population may live beyond its carrying capacity (sometimes referred to as 'overshoot") for a relatively short period of time, it cannot do so indefinitely. That period tends to correspond closely with the reproductive time lag of the species in question, because the greatest strain on resources occurs when coming into adulthood ( c.£ Pimentel et al 1994 ). The consequences for the human species of these two aspects of behavioral ecological theory considered together-the potential for overshoot in conjunction with the reproductive time lag effect-are considerable: (1) the effects of overpopulation may not be fully experienced until some significant time after onset; and (2) the potential for ecological degradation is not spread evenly.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Theorizing and Rethinking Linkages Between the Natural Environment and the Modern World-System: Deforestation in the Late 20th Century

Burns

Kick

Davis

2003

JWSR

173

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Building on prior work in world-system analysis and human ecology, we test a macro-level theory that social and demographic causes of deforestation will vary across zones of the modern world-system. Using multivariate regression analysis, we examine models of deforestation over the period 1990-2000. We test for main effects of world-system posmon, two different population variables (urbanization and proportion under working age), and economic development within zone, as well as for the contextual effects of these variables as they operate differently across world-system positions. Our findings indicate that generic models of deforestation need to be qualified, because the particular social factors most closely associated with deforestation tend to vary by position in the global hierarchy. Deforestation at the macro level is best explained by considering effects of socio-demographic processes contextually, in terms of world-system dynamics. We discuss the findings in a more general world-systems and behavioral ecological framework, and suggest the field will be well served with more precise theorizing and closer attention to scope conditions.

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Natural resources and an optimum human population

Cited by 148 publications

References 23 publications

Population Dynamics and Tropical Deforestation: State of the Debate and Conceptual Challenges

Population Dynamics and Tropical Deforestation: State of the Debate and Conceptual Challenges

Urbanisation and Food Insecurity Risks: Assessing the Role of Human Development

Theorizing and Rethinking Linkages Between the Natural Environment and the Modern World-System: Deforestation in the Late 20th Century

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