POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN ZIMBABWE: THE CASE OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS

The earth's current population of almost six billion people is growing at a rate of 1.6% annually. In addition, the global economic product per capita is also growing at 1,5% annually. These two related trends imply increased consumption of the earth's natural resources that can lead to resource scarcities. This article attempts to add to the debate on the relationship between future resource scarcity, sustainable development, environmental degradation and the human capacity to adapt to them by describing the interrelatedness of population trends, environmental change and conservation efforts in the rural area of the Bushu Communal Area of Zimbabwe.