Desert Development - Man and Technology in Sparselands (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1985)

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."

General

Imprint:	Springer
Country of origin:	Netherlands
Series:	GeoJournal Library, 4
Release date:	2012
First published:	1985
Editors:	Yehuda Gradus
Dimensions:	254 x 178 x 18mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	340
Edition:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1985
ISBN-13:	978-9401088824
Categories:	Books > Earth & environment > Geography > General
LSN:	9401088829
Barcode:	9789401088824

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