This valuable book summarizes recent research by experts from both the natural and social sciences on the effects of population growth on land use. It is a useful introduction to a field in which little quantitative research has been conducted and in which there is a great deal of public controversy. The book includes case studies of African, Asian, and Latin American countries that demonstrate the varied effects of population growth on land use. Several general chapters address the following timely questions: What is meant by land use change? Why are ecological research and population studies so different? What are the implications for sustainable growth in agricultural production?


Although much work remains to be done in quantifying the causal connections between demographic and land use changes, this book provides important insights into those connections, and it should stimulate more work in this area.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
1 Introduction
2 Population, Land Use, and Environment: A Long History
3 What is Meant by Land Use Change?
4 An Ecological Perspective on Population Change and Land Use
5 Northern Nigeria: Land Transformation Under Agricultural Intensification
6 India: Population Pressure, Technology, Infrastructure, Capital Formation, and Rural Incomes
7 Mauritius: Population and Land Use
8 Honduras: Population, Inequality, and Resource Destruction
9 Population Growth, Environmental Change, and Innovation: Implications for Sustainable Growth in Agriculture
Appendix A: Workshop Agenda
Appendix B: Workshop Participants