Although world population growth continues, it appears that the rate of growth has slowed somewhat. It’s common knowledge among economists that as income and education increase, family size decreases, and as infant and childhood mortality rates decrease, families have fewer children. In fact, one of the best strategies for reducing family size and thus world population is to educate girls and women. Educated women are more likely to be in the labor force and are better able to provide food for their families, seek health care for themselves and their children, and practice family planning.
With decreases in family size and improvements in education and employment opportunities for both men and women throughout the world, we are also likely to see improvements in environmental conservation and habitat preservation. The small Central American country of Costa Rica has recognized the economic importance of its abundant and beautiful natural resources. By developing ecotourism as a means of generating income, Costa Rica has been able, for the present, to preserve much of its forests and wildlife. In fact, ecotourism has become its primary industry, and Costa Rica’s poverty levels are the lowest in Central America. Habitat destruction and poverty often go hand in hand. Although successes like those accomplished in Costa Rica can’t be replicated everywhere, this small nation has been a model for making environmental concerns integral to social and economic development.
Annually since 2005, leaders from both developing and developed countries have come together to discuss new ways of reducing global poverty, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, some of the wealthiest people in the world (including Bill and Melinda Gates, George Soros, Warren Buffet, Richard Branson, and Ted Turner) have begun to invest their personal fortunes to help reduce poverty and poor health and thus, to promote global peace and prosperity. Lastly, the degree of international cooperation shown at the 2010 conference on biodiversity is a hopeful development that could be a foundation for slowing species extinctions and maintaining natural habitats.
What should be obvious is that only by working together can nations and individuals hope to develop solutions to the world’s problems. As we discussed in Chapter 7, cooperation is important to survival in nonhuman primates, and this was no doubt true for our ancestors as well. The question now is whether or not we have the collective will to see that our admirable goals are met. Many people believe that it’s our only hope.
Studies of human evolution have much to contribute to our understanding of how we, as a single species, came to exert such control over the destiny of our planet. It’s a truly phenomenal story of how a small apelike creature walking on two feet across the African savanna challenged nature by learning to make stone tools. From these humble beginnings came large-brained humans who, instead of stone tools, now have telecommunications satellites, computers, and nuclear arsenals at their fingertips. The human story is indeed unique and wonderful. Our two feet have carried us not only across the plains of Africa but onto the polar caps, the ocean floor, and even on the surface of the moon! Surely, if we can accomplish so much in so short a time, we can act responsibly to preserve our home and the wondrous creatures that share it with us.