The Green Revolution in the 1960s led farmers to use fertilizers and pesticides to increase food production, resulting in more crops and higher populations but also dangerous chemicals in the environment and erosion. Increased populations caused greater urbanization and industrialization, with over 3.5 billion people living in cities by 2005, leading to localized pollution, disease spread, and wildlife habitat loss as natural areas were developed. This utilization of resources to support larger populations also results in more environmental pollution worldwide.

1. Human and Environment
Interactions

2. The Green Revolution
• In the 1960s, farmers
began using better
fertilizers and
pesticides (bug
sprays) to increase
food production.

3. Pros and Cons
• Pros
• More Crops and Less
Famines
• Higher Populations
• Cons
• Dangerous Chemicals got
into the environment
• Erosion as more land was
used for farming

4. Results of Increased
Population
• Increased
populations led to an
increase in
urbanization (cities)
and industrialization
• By 2005, 3.5 billion
people lived in cities.
• 7 billion people live
in the world today!

5. Results of Urbanization
• Urbanization leads to
localized pollution,
diseases spread, and
increased temperatures
(in cities – all the
concrete!)
• And as previously
mentioned, hazardous
chemicals get into the
environment (last
week’s local issue!)

6. Effects on Wildlife
• These developments endanger wildlife because
people tear down natural habitats to make
homes and businesses.

7. Natural Resources
• As we utilize the natural resources in increasing
industrialized regions, we pollute the world,
poisoning more environments and killing more
animals.