Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Improved transportation.
Modest investment in the most basic forms of infrastructure
could greatly enhance food supply and well-being. Roads in parts of many developing coun-
tries are little more than dirt tracks that may be nearly impassable during a rainy season or
other time of year. This diminishes access to markets and to goods that might improve agricul-
ture. Modest investment in road-building could lead to a much improved picture.
Greater distribution of food surpluses.
Some developed countries have massive food
surpluses that are merely stored, as well as policies that pay farmers not to grow crops (in
order to maintain decent price levels). Cornucopians regard these as ethically unconscionable
and readily available sources of food.
Cornucopians, in short, believe that a number of means are available that can significantly improve
global carrying capacity. What is lacking, in their view, is the will to do the right thing.
Figure 11-10.
A
photo of a high-
yield rice paddy.
High-yield rice is
one reason
Cornuco-pians
are optimistic
about sustaining
the world's
people at an ac-
ceptable level of
well-being.
Applied Geography: Census-taking from
above
In developing countries census-taking is sometimes inhibited by the remoteness of vil-
lages and the reluctance of their inhabitants to be enumerated. Intent on conducting the
best possible head count, some nations have successfully overcome these impediments
through careful use of two geographic techniques: spatial sampling and aerial photo-
graphy. Specifically, inhabitants in a number of accessible and representative villages
throughout the country are surveyed (spatial sampling) with special emphasis on determ-
ining the average number of people per house or hut. Afterwards, aircraft fly over remote
villages and photograph them. Photo interpreters then examine the pictures, taking spe-
cial care to identify and count the houses and huts. That number is then multiplied by the
average number of people per household, the result being the estimated population of
the photographed areas. Geographic variation in house-types and social structure may
complicate matters. But adequate sampling coupled with skillful photo interpretation may
result in a reasonably accurate census.
