Answer the following.

What are the effects of increased population on ecosystems?

Population in the world is currently (2018) growing at a rate of around 1.09% per year which is estimated to be 83 million people per year. This massive rate of growth of population is causing damage to our environment.

• The more the number of people, the more mouths will be there to feed, thus, putting pressure on resources such as water, food and energy.

• Pollution, soil degradation, deforestation and loss of biodiversity are also caused because of overpopulation.

• Consumption of finite natural resources, such as fresh water, arable land and fossil fuels, at speeds faster than their rate of regeneration.