Impact of Human Population Growth on Resources and Ecosystem (3)

Experience over the last couple of decades in Ethiopia has shown that as human number increased, the population carrying capacity of the environment decreased. A high population growth rate induces increased demand for resources and the rate at which these resources are exploited. In Ethiopia where technology has not kept pace with the demands for greater productivity, environmentally harmful and economically counter-productive methods of exploiting land and associated resources (forests, animal resources, etc.) are resorted to in order to meet immediate needs. As a consequence of this, climatic conditions are becoming erratic and soil quality is declining at an alarming rate.