Population,Environment and Sustainable Development

The paper notes that available research evidence indicates that population factors have a distinct impact on environment and vice versa. In spite of the decline in the rate of population growth to about 1.4 per cent, population growth is still an important issue, particularly in terms of environmental deterioration. Thus, both population and environmental concerns must be integrated into social and economic development plans in order for development to be sustainable. As certain environmental problems may not be visible in the short run, for purposes of environmental and population planning, a longer-term approach should be taken in addition to the short term strategies.

To achieve the goals of maintaining or improving environmental conditions, it is necessary that excessive population growth be slowed and eventually stabilized. It is estimated that if replacement level fertility is achieved in Sri Lanka by the end of this decade, the population will eventually stabilize at about 25 million by the middle of the 21st century. To achieve the goal of replacement level fertility, the contraceptive prevalence rate needs to increase to 72 per cent. The financial resources required to meet this goal is estimated at US $ 25 million. Therefore the task before us is a challenging one.