[Population and the environment: perspectives and proposals]. / Poblacion y medio ambiente: perspectivas y propuestas.

PIP: This work reflects on the relationship between population and the environment at different stages of development and proposes guidelines for community-level integrated programs that would be better able than existing programs to respond to local needs. Growing concern in recent decades about population growth, the environment, sustainable development, and similar topics represents continuation of a debate first formulated at the dawn of the industrial era. The first portion of the work examines the extent to which the catastrophic predictions of Malthus and other "pessimists" have been realized in the areas of explosive population growth, deteriorating consumption, and irreversible environmental degradation. Insufficient historical data is available to answer the question of whether, as maintained by the "optimists", technological progress is capable of providing improving living standards for most of the population, reducing growth, and avoiding irreversible environmental damage. Some of the variables implicated in the debate can, however, be examined: population growth and the demographic transition in developing and developed countries, and the impact of population growth on agriculture and the supply of land, forests, and water. The evidence reveals the gravity and also the complexity and diversity of demographic and economic processes affecting the environment. The next section discusses a model designed to illustrate the interaction between population, consumption, technology, and environmental impact at different historical periods and stages of development. It is concluded that the developed countries are mainly responsible for pollution originating in industrialization and energy use, but the more urbanized developing countries are increasingly responsible for air and water pollution, deforestation, and soil erosion. The final section proposes an integrated focus for reproductive health and environmental programs at the community level in developing countries. The discussion identifies criteria for selecting populations, community participation, program focus, and technology transfers for programs capable of furthering the objectives of both the health and development components.^ieng