Problem:
There are many activities that cause soil damage: overgrazing,
monoculture agriculture, erosion, soil compaction, excessive lighting of
pollutants, genus change. According to the United Nations (UN), about 12
million hectares of the earth's arable land are severely damaged each year.
The solution:
There are many techniques available for soil conservation
and restoration, from no-till farming to cropping, to water retention by
terracing. Considering that food security depends on keeping
the soil in
good condition, a solution to this problem is possible in the long run. But
whether this will be done fairly for the benefit of all people on the planet is a
difficult question to answer at the moment.
Terraces of this type,
such as in China, allow water retention and re-greening of degraded
areas.
5. Overpopulation
The problem:
The human population continues to grow rapidly around the
world. The population
of mankind, who entered the 20th century with 1.6
million, is around 6.5 billion today. Estimates say it will reach 10 billion by
2050. The ever-increasing global population, coupled
with ever-increasing
levels of prosperity, is putting even greater pressure on vital natural
resources, especially water. The biggest increase is in
the African continent
and South and East Asia.
The solution:
Research to date shows that when women are left to decide
to have children and have access to education and basic social services,
the average birthrate per woman will drop drastically.