While we turn our guns to deforestation, improper disposal of wastes, plastics among others, I feel that we have rather side stepped the cause of all these. And arguably, all these are in one or many ways related to over population. 

Talk about deforestation, the more the population grows, the higher the demand for land for settlement and industrial or commercial projects. This means more cutting down of trees, swam reclamation, encroachment on forests thereby taking away the natural habitat of wild animals. In the end, more carbon dioxide and less oxygen are produced affecting the temperature and rainfall formation. 

The more the population grows, the higher the demand for resources such as food, water and fuel. In efforts to sustain the rising population, more harm than good is done especially in developing countries. Increasing agriculture involving the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides coupled with clearing of forests has undoubtedly contributed to our environmental problems. 

Furthermore, a big population means huge amount of waste, which as observed over the years, is poorly disposed off and ends in oceans. This waste encompasses plastics and electronics which have killed life in water and is now affecting that on land. 

The increased industrial activities of manufacturing and the increasing use of cars due to the growing population pollutes the air, water and soil. Heavy metals, gases released by factories and automobiles, oil spills and combustion of fossils all result from this invisible factor that is less talked about, yet greatly contributing to the environmental problems. 

Human activity further results into emission of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, a phenomenon that increases global temperatures leading to melting of polar ice caps, rising of sea levels, floods and desertification. 

The more human population grows, the more the other species disappear. Human activity has made it inevitable for other species and natural habitats to go extinct. This in turn results into imbalance in natural processes like pollination which just ensures more extinction because it is a threat to ecosystems. 

I am on the thinking that man will regain control of the environment, and earth for that matter, only when he gains control of his own population. The more the population, the less manageable it becomes. I am not writing this article in pretense that I don't know the reality that the human population must grow. I am aware of it, but my argument is that its growth corresponds to the effectiveness of its management. 

Moreover, over population has not only caused environmental problems but ultimately the gist of human suffering. In developing countries for example, it is perturbing how those who have little access to resources (the poor - with all due respect) are instead the ones bearing many children. In my opinion, this is rather uncalled for because these children growing up in untold suffering is preventable. 

I therefore invite you to the round table and think with me whether over population is actually the major cause of the contemporary problems, both environmental and human, and think together about the possible solutions. 

Please leave your thoughts in the comments.