Desert Development: Man and Technology in Sparselands: 4 (GeoJournal Library) - Tapa blanda

 
9789401088824: Desert Development: Man and Technology in Sparselands: 4 (GeoJournal Library)
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ISBN 10: 9401088829 ISBN 13: 9789401088824
Editorial: Springer, 2012

Sinopsis

The fact that approximately one-third of the world’s land mass is arid desert may be congenial for the camel and the cactus, but not for people. Nevertheless, well over half a billion people, or 15% of the world’s population live in arid desert areas. If the world’s population were distributed evenly over the land surface, we would expect to find about 30% of the population inhabiting arid desert areas. Does the fact that ’only’ 15% of the world’s population live in an arid desert environment reflect the harshness of the environment? Or is it a testimony to the adaptability and ingenuity of mankind? Do we view the glass as half-full? Or half-empty? The contributors to Desert Development: Man and Technology in Sparselands adopt the position that the cup is half-full and, in fact, could be filled much more. Indeed, many arid desert zones do thrive with life, and given appropriate technological develop ment, such areas could support even greater popUlations. While the dire Malthusian prediction that rapid world population growth exceeds the carrying capacity of existent resource systems has gained popularity (typified by the 1972 Club of Rome book, Limits to Growth), there is a growing body of serious work which rejects such pessimistic ’depletion’ models, in favor of models which are mildly optimistic.

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Reseña del editor

The fact that approximately one-third of the world's land mass is arid desert may be congenial for the camel and the cactus, but not for people. Nevertheless, well over half a billion people, or 15% of the world's population live in arid desert areas. If the world's population were distributed evenly over the land surface, we would expect to find about 30% of the population inhabiting arid desert areas. Does the fact that 'only' 15% of the world's population live in an arid desert environment reflect the harshness of the environment? Or is it a testimony to the adaptability and ingenuity of mankind? Do we view the glass as half-full? Or half-empty? The contributors to Desert Development: Man and Technology in Sparselands adopt the position that the cup is half-full and, in fact, could be filled much more. Indeed, many arid desert zones do thrive with life, and given appropriate technological develop­ ment, such areas could support even greater popUlations. While the dire Malthusian prediction that rapid world population growth exceeds the carrying capacity of existent resource systems has gained popularity (typified by the 1972 Club of Rome book, Limits to Growth), there is a growing body of serious work which rejects such pessimistic 'depletion' models, in favor of models which are mildly optimistic.

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Editorial
Springer
Año de publicación
2012
Idioma
Inglés
ISBN 10 
9401088829
ISBN 13 
9789401088824
Encuadernación
Tapa blanda
Número de páginas
344
Editor
Gradus Yehuda
Contacto del fabricante
Springer Nature Customer Service Center GmbH
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Heidelberg
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Alemania

Otras ediciones populares con el mismo título

9789027720436: Desert Development: Man and Technology in Sparselands: 4 (GeoJournal Library, 4)

Edición Destacada

ISBN 10:  9027720436 ISBN 13:  9789027720436
Editorial: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1985
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