Human Communities Unit V PDF

HUMAN COMMUNITIES UNIT V  POPULATION GROWTH Population Growth can be defined as the increase in the number of people in a given area. The world's human population reached 8 billion in November 2022 and is predicted to peak at 10.4 billion by 2080. Census is the official co...

HUMAN COMMUNITIES UNIT V  POPULATION GROWTH Population Growth can be defined as the increase in the number of people in a given area. The world's human population reached 8 billion in November 2022 and is predicted to peak at 10.4 billion by 2080. Census is the official count of the population in the country. The factors affecting population growth are fertility rate, life expectancy and net immigration levels. Life Expectancy is the average lifespan that a person will reach. World Population Day – July 11  Population Growth Types There are two different types of population growth: exponential and logistic. Population Growth Types: Exponential - Exponential growth rate is growth that increases rapidly with passing time. In a graph, exponential growth increases upward and has a "J" shape. Population size increases by a larger amount with each passing year. The result is a "J" shaped curve with a rapidly increasing population growth rate.  Population Growth Types: Logistic Logistic growth rate is growth that slows down with passing time. In a graph, logistic growth rate increases and then flattens out, resulting in an "S" shaped curve. The graph above shows us what logistic growth looks like over time. Population growth initially increases, then levels out after a certain point in time. The result is an "S" shaped curve and a slower population growth rate.  POPULATION PYRAMID A population pyramid is a graph that shows the distribution of ages across a population divided down the center between male and female members of the population. The graphic starts from youngest at the bottom to oldest at the top. It is called a population pyramid because when a population is growing (there are more babies being born than there are people dying), the graphic forms the shape of a triangle. POPULATION PYRAMID EXPANSIVE POPULATION PYRAMID These types of pyramids have a much larger population of pre- reproductive and reproductive age groups and a population of post-reproductive age groups is very less compared to pre- reproductive and reproductive age groups. These types of pyramids are seen in developing countries. Here in these countries, the fertility rate is usually high but life expectancy is very less. So the base of the pyramid is wide and tapers towards the top with a triangular shape. Examples of countries having expansive pyramids are India and Nigeria. Stationary population pyramids Stationary population pyramids have an equal population in each group. That's why the name stationary means the birth and death rates are equal and the population is neither increasing nor decreasing. There are usually not any major changes in the mortality rate and fertility rates. The shape of this pyramid is bell-shaped. These types of pyramids are generally of the developed countries such as America. Constrictive Population Pyramid As the name itself suggests that the population is decreasing here, these types of pyramids show declining birth rates, low fertility rates, high life expectancy, and low mortality rates. These graphs are narrow at the base and show the decreasing size of the population. These graphs are urn-shaped. (An urn is a vase, often with a cover, with a typically narrowed neck above a rounded body and a footed pedestal) Here the post-reproductive and elderly population is more than the pre-reproductive and reproductive population. This type of graph is seen in Japan. IMPACTS OF POPULATION  EFFECTS OF POPULATION GROWTH ON OUR ENVIRONMENT 1. Generation of Waste 2. Threat to Biodiversity 3. Strain on Forests 4. Urbanization 5. Industrialisation 6. Land Degradation 7. Transport Development 8. Climatic Change 9. Productivity HUMAN HEALTH & WELFARE Human welfare is a set of normative values which provide a standard for the measurement of the well being of a people. More broadly, welfare may also encompass efforts to provide a basic level of well-being through subsidized social services such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, vocational training, and public housing.  IMPACT OF OVERPOPULATION ON HUMAN HEALTH 1. Increased Risk of Infections-urban overcrowding- airborne infections Tuberculosis Malaria Cholera Dengue fever 2. Rise of Water Contaminated Diseases-Polluted water 3. Respiratory Problems-increased traffic Asthma Lung cancer Chest pain Congestion Throat inflammation Cardiovascular disease Respiratory diseases 4. Increased Risk of Skin Cancer-Ozone hole cataracts and blindness 5. Various Other Health Hazards- large amounts of uncollected garbage Cancer Neurological disorders  MINIMIZE THE EFFECTS OF OVERPOPULATION Establishing laws and regulations governing birth control. Educating the public about family planning. Making birth control options available to everyone. Spreading awareness of population growth. DISASTER MANAGEMENT Disaster management is a process of effectively preparing for and responding to disasters. It involves strategically organizing resources to lessen the harm that disasters cause. It also involves a systematic approach to managing the responsibilities of disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.  FLOOD An overflow of water onto normally dry land is called flood. The term flood is generally used when the water-flows in rivers, streams and other water bodies cannot be contained within natural or artificial banks. India is one of the most flood prone countries in the world. Floods occur Chennai flood in 2015 regularly in India affecting about 10% of area.  CAUSES OF FLOOD Massive Rainfall Overflowing of the Rivers Collapsed Dams Snowmelt Deforestation Climate change  FLOOD CONTROL MANAGEMENT Construction of Dams and Reservoirs. Redirecting the excess water to canals and floodways. Excess water can be used for groundwater replenishment. The self-closing flood barrier (SCFB) is a flood defense system designed to protect people and property from inland waterway floods caused by heavy rainfall, gales or rapid melting snow. Having a planned disaster preparedness plan and an integrated solution and approach. Planting vegetation to retain excess water, terrace slopes to reduce slope flow, and building alluviums (man-made channels to divert water from flooding), construction of dams, reservoirs or holding tanks to store extra water during flood periods.  EARTHQUAKE An earthquake is the sudden release of strain energy in the Earth's crust, resulting in waves of shaking that radiate outwards from the earthquake source. Earthquakes occur along faults, which are fractures between blocks of rock that allow the blocks to move relative to one another. Faults are caused by the bumping and sliding that plates do and are more common near the edges of the plates. The world's greatest earthquake belt, the circum- Pacific seismic belt, is found along the rim of the Pacific Ocean, where about 81 percent of our planet's largest earthquakes occur. It has earned the nickname "Ring of Fire". The reason for earthquakes to occur lies in the earth's tectonic plates. When the tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface move against each other, earthquakes occur.  PROTECTION DURING EARTHQUAKE A seismograph, also characterized as a seismometer, seems to be a device that detects ground motions, such as seismic waves produced by disasters, volcanic activity, as well as other seismic occurrences. The Richter scale provides a number depending on the amount of energy produced by the earthquake.  PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF EARTHQUAKE Locate safe places outdoors. In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways. Make sure all family members know how to respond after an earthquake. Teach all family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water. CYCLONE Cyclones are large revolving tropical storms caused by winds blowing around a central area of low atmospheric pressure. Cyclones are caused by atmospheric disturbances around a low-pressure area distinguished by swift and often destructive air circulation. The eye of the cyclone is at the center and the outer portions of the spinning storm give rise to immense wind and rainfall. The continuous rise of hot air and the filling of the gap with cold air around are the main causes of cyclones. The effects of tropical cyclones include heavy rain, strong wind, large storm surges near landfall, and tornadoes.  CYCLONE MANAGEMENT Cyclone disaster management in India comprises mitigation measures for cyclones. The infrastructures should be engineered and crafted to tolerate cyclones and other catastrophes. Through the technique of hazard mapping the cyclone-prone areas can be estimated. It can also predict the areas where the probability of higher impact of cyclones can occur. It gauges the areas affected and other factors such as the wind speed of past years to present an estimation. Cyclone shelters can be instituted for safeguarding the local population. The area’s topography must also be kept in mind while planning the construction and establishment of cyclone shelters. Mangrove conservation can also lead to mitigating the occurrence of cyclones. The roots of the mangrove in mitigating the probability of the occurrence of floods and cyclones. Saline embankments also assist in safeguarding habitats and crops. Leeves are the structures that prevent and mitigate the chances of floods. It obstructs the wind and hence the cyclone as well. Mass awareness about the ways to adopt to safeguard themselves during a natural catastrophe plays an instrumental role in saving lives. LANDSLIDE A landslide is a mass movement of material, such as rock, earth or debris, down a slope. They can happen suddenly or more slowly over long periods of time. When the force of gravity acting on a slope exceeds the resisting forces of a slope, the slope will fail and a landslide occurs. Landslides are caused by disturbances in the natural stability of a slope. They can accompany heavy rains or follow droughts, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. Mudslides develop when water rapidly accumulates in the ground and results in a surge of water- saturated rock, earth, and debris. Landslides are a significant natural hazard that can have devastating effects on human lives, infrastructure, and the environment. Not constructing houses and buildings in landslide-prone areas. Building walls along the slopes of hills to block debris. Trees on the slopes are cut down to allow free flowing soil. Trees are planted along slopes to form natural barriers.  LANDSLIDE MANAGEMENT The objective of landslide information is to identify which relatively landslide-susceptible areas are best suited for what types of development activities. For example, assessing landslide hazard would have a low priority in planning areas to be set aside for national parks or game preserves. Reinforcement of floor slabs and external walls in existing buildings. Installation of drainage pipes for rainwater, slope drainage. Planting of slopes that are vulnerable to landslides with deep-rooted trees and shrubs. ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS The Chipko movement was a group action in India with the goal of saving trees. This is mainly done through the act of hugging trees to protect them from being cut. It was also known as Chipko Andolan. Those who were part of it used nonviolent protests. The movement originated in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh) in 1973 and quickly spread throughout the Indian Himalayas. The Hindi word chipko means “to hug” or “to cling to” and reflects the demonstrators’ primary tactic of embracing trees to impede loggers.  CHIPKO MOVEMENT The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan began in the 1970s in Uttarakhand, then a part of Uttar Pradesh, and went on to all over the world as to future environmental movements. It is a movement related to the conservation of forests. It started with a nonviolent protest in India. The Chipko movement was initiated by well-known environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna. He is known for coining the Chipko movement slogan ‘ecology is the permanent economy’. It was caused due to a dispute between the local villagers and logging contractors who had been all to cut trees near the village. The women of the village reached the forest and hugged the trees to prevent the workers from cutting the trees. This leads the contractor to withdraw. Gauri Devi was the first woman host of the Chipko movement. The movement achieved a victory when the government issued a ban on the felling of trees in the Himalayan regions in 1980. The main effect of this movement was that the environment became the major agenda of politics.  SILENT VALLEY MOVEMENT Silent Valley Movement was a movement against the state to protect Silent valley, an evergreen tropical forest in the Palakkad district of Kerala, India. It was started in 1973 to save the Silent Valley Reserve Forest from being flooded by a hydroelectric project. Significance of Silent Valley The valley is famous for many rare species of birds and animals. Birdlife International listed 16 bird species in Silent Valley as threatened or restricted. The mammals in the valley include Gaur, the largest of all wild cattle. There are at least 34 species of mammals at Silent Valley, including the threatened species of mammals. Over 128 species of butterflies and 400 species of moths live here. Silent Valley is identified as a region with high biodiversity and an important Gene Pool resource for Recombinant DNA innovations by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR (India).  SILENT VALLEY MOVEMENT The movement was first initiated by the local people and was subsequently taken over by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP). The KSSP effectively aroused public opinion by publishing a techno-economic and socio-political assessment report on the Silent Valley hydroelectric project. The KSSP generated public opinion against the project. As a consequence, in 1979, the Government of Kerala passed legislation regarding the Silent Valley Protection Area (Protection of Ecological balance Act of 1979) and issued a notification declaring the exclusion of the hydroelectric project area from the proposed national park. Conservation Status of Silent Valley In 1914 the forest of the Silent Valley area was declared a Reserve Forest. However, from 1927 to 1976 portions of the Silent Valley forest areas were subjected to forestry operations. In 1983, the Central Government instructed the State government to abandon the Project and on November 15, the Silent Valley forests were declared as a National Park. On September 7, 1985, the Silent Valley National Park was formally inaugurated. On September 1, 1986, Silent Valley National Park was designated as the core area of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.  BISHNOIS OF RAJASTHAN King Abhay Singh of Jodhpur, in the 1730s, when building his new palace, ordered his soldiers to cut down the trees for wood in Khejarli village. The Bishnois are considered the first environmentalists of India born nature-friendly people. The Bishnoi Movement arose due to the royal order to cut down trees considered sacred by the community. As a symbol of protest, Amrita Devi stood against the soldiers and fought for the life of trees by clinging onto them. People hugged these trees one by one to save them from being cut down, even with the possibility of losing their lives. In this movement, 363 Bishnois laid down their lives for the protection of Khejri trees in the Khejarli village of Rajasthan. THE SACRED KHEJRI TREES This small evergreen tree has been hailed as the lifeline of the Thar desert. It is a source of shade; its leaves provide fodder to camels, goats, cattle and other animals; its pods are edible and the wood is used as fuel; its roots fix atmospheric nitrogen, making the soil fertile.  RELIGION & CULTURE IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION  SACRED PLANTS AND ANIMALS A sacred tree or holy tree is a tree which is considered to be sacred, or worthy of spiritual respect or reverence. Example: Peepal tree Many religions have considered cattle to be sacred, most famously Hinduism from India and Nepal.  ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATION & PUBLIC AWARENESS Environmental communication is "the dissemination of information and the implementation of communication practices that are related to the environment. Environmental communication serves to raise awareness, change behaviour, influence public opinion, advocate for policies, address conflicts and pass legislation. The citizens` involvement in environmental management and protection depend, largely, on their level of awareness about environmental issues. Public awareness is important to increase enthusiasm and support, stimulate self-mobilisation and action, and to mobilise local knowledge and resources. Environmental communication serves to raise awareness, change behaviour, influence public opinion, advocate for policies, address conflicts and pass legislation. The citizens` involvement in environmental management and protection depend, largely, on their level of awareness about environmental issues.