Volume 9 October 2004
ISSN 1438-7890 |
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African
Journal of Environmental Assessment and Management
Revue africaine de gestion et d’évaluation environnementales |
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Assessment
of Linkages Between Population Dynamics and Environmental Change in
Tanzania
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Ndalahwa F. Madulu
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| This paper discusses the linkages between population growth and
environmental degradation in Tanzania. Tanzania's major
environmental problems, demographic characteristics, and the
linkages between environmental change and rapid population growth
both at national and regional levels are discussed. These
discussions are intended to provide an empirical base for analysing
the impact of changing environment on the people’s lifestyle and
their demographic behaviours including the reproductive ones. In the
course of discussion the impacts of a rapidly growing population on
the environment have been brought in the agenda. Examples from
various parts of Tanzania have been given to provide empirical
evidences to the arguments given. Generally, the paper demonstrates
that high population growth and economic backwardness are dependent
variables and both contribute significant impacts on the
environment. There negative impacts are also reflected in the
diminishing economic growth given the fact that the Tanzanian
economy is agrarian. Environmental degradation affects agricultural
productivity through land degradation, climatic change, and
declining land per capita. A conclusion is made that environmental
change is as an important factor to demographic and economic factors
as it is population growth to economic development and environmental
conservation. A change in the environment may influence changes both
in the demographic behaviour and socio-economic conditions of the
people, hence, population growth.
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