A2 GEOGRAPHY   -   AQA SYLLABUS A

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14.1 Population Pressure and Resource Management

Patterns, Trends and Concepts

• The growth of world population. Future trends in world growth and analysis of expected trends.
• Candidates to effectively develop an understanding by contrasting the MEDW and LEDW on a global scale.
• Definition and understanding of the concepts of under-, over- and optimum population.
• The theories/models of Malthus, Boserup and neo-Malthusian views such as the Club of Rome.
• These are to be evaluated by the use of case studies such as the problems of Sahelian Africa. 

Resource exploitation and management

• Resources definition: classification, stocks, reserves, renewable/non renewable.
• Exploitation and management of one renewable and one non-renewable resource to include those of the continental shelf. The life cycle of a resource.
• The environmental impact of resource exploitation and management.
• Resource exploitation and management in the context of sustainable development. One reusable resource which must be either timber or water and one non-renewable resource from iron ore, copper, coal or oil must be studied on a global scale.

The demographic response

• The increasing concern regarding rapid population growth and the resource-population balance.
• The indicators of imbalance - measures of development and welfare.
• A range of demographic, economic and social indicators to be studied and evaluated.
• Economic indicators are to be exemplified by the GNP, GDP, energy consumption etc.; demographic indicators by birth/death rates, life expectancy etc.; and social indicators by health and education data.
• The significance of composite quality of life indicators such as Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) and Human Development Index (HDI).
• These are to be developed in the context of both the MEDW and the LEDW and the idea of a development continuum is to be explored.
• Population policies: anti- and pro-natalist. Two anti-natalist policy cases need to be considered as well as a balancing pro-natalist case.
• Migration controls and schemes: immigration controls; transmigration schemes such as those in Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines.
• Issues related to demographic responses: the social, economic, political, cultural and environmental consequences.
• Candidates are to explore their own attitudes and values in relation to these issues.

The resource response: food surpluses in the MEDW

• Developed world surpluses: the causes identified in relation to scale, organisation and intensification of agricultural systems and government support e.g. EU and CAP.
• Case studies are to be on a regional scale such as changes in southern Italy, and on a small scale such as the pressure on the urban fringe relating to horticulture and PYO.
• The economic, social and environmental consequences: set aside, soil erosion, hedgerow removal in the context of sustainable development; diversification, problems of small farms.
• Emphasis must be placed on the growing concerns regarding capital intensive farming practices.
• The expansion of organic farming. The UK is to be used as the principal means of exemplifying this theme.
• Candidates are to explore their own values/attitudes and those of others.
• Most recent issues such as GM food and the current crisis in UK agriculture are to be analysed. The concept of sustainable development needs to be re-visited in relation to this theme.

The resource response: food shortages in the LEDW

• LEDW shortages: problems of traditional farming systems e.g. in parts of Africa. Partial success of modernisation in relation to the green revolution, switch to cash crops, role of transnationals, agricultural frontiers, natural disasters, political instability.
• National/regional case studies are required, such as a study of modernisation in Bangladesh and the Punjab which provides an interesting contrast, while sugar cane production in Brazil and agricultural frontiers in Brazil or Indonesia are other valid examples.
• Consequences such as intermittent famine, malnutrition, impact on development, need for appropriate technology and sustainability. The theme of global interdependence and an awareness of Agenda 2000 need to be developed here.
• Candidates are to explore their own attitudes and values in relation to this theme.