negative effect of overpopulation

Overpopulation The United States is the world’s third most populous country, following India with 314 million people as of 2012. With the population increasing rapidly, it is impacting the country in more negative ways than positive. The term overpopulation refers to the human population exceeding the maximum amount of people a territory can support with habitat, water, food, and other necessities. The overpopulation in the Unites States is affecting the country’s environment, economy, and space. It is affecting the country space wise in the same way as in the story, To Kill a Mockingbird, during the court scene there was not enough room for everyone to stand and watch. Everyone was cramped together. That is how it will be in the United States because even though the population is increasing, the space available isn’t increasing as fast.
In response to the population growth, the environment is constantly changing. Forests and water are natural resources that assist daily needs and help society in a large way. With regards to this, Roger-Mark De Souza, John S. Williams, and Frederick A.B. Meyerson, also agree when they wrote: “Where people live and the rate of population growth increase the demand

for natural resources such as water and fossil fuels, adding pressure on environmental systems such as watersheds and rainforests” (Souza, Williams, and Meyerson 1). Since 1600, ninety percent of forests that once covered the states have been cleared away. Major uses of forests include giving oxygen, fuel wood, rubber, shelter, medicine, etc. With the population increasing, their wants and demands are increasing as well, which is putting a negative aspect on forests with them not being able to fulfill the population’s needs. The water supply is drying up as well which is making the ability of the fish being eaten to breed, is being restrained. The ozone layer is being destroyed at a four percent rate every decade. As population increases, the more resources are