Natural Resource Use Dilemma: A Review of Effects of Population Growth on Natural Resources in Kenya George Ouma Ochola* Institution of Affiliation: Rongo University, Department of Agronomy and Environmental Studies, P.O. Box 103-40404, Rongo, Kenya Submission: July 05, 2018; Published: July 26, 2018 *Corresponding author: George Ouma Ochola, Institution of Affiliation: Rongo University, Department of Agronomy and Environmental Studies, Kenya, Email: Introduction The role that the environment plays in supporting various life forms cannot be overstated. The natural resources that are provided by the environment have supported human and other organisms in a number of ways. Forest for example are the acting as air purifiers. They are sources of medicine, they create micro- climate as they contribute to the atmospheric moisture recharge also regulate infiltration rate. Water on the other hand is also considered the second most important resource after oxygen. It is known that all living organisms rely on it for their survival. Therefore, any that disrupts its sully and distribution, tends to disrupt the very survival of humanity and other organisms. Environment that comprises various ecosystem play a very important role in waste assimilation. Nevertheless, sustainable management and utilization of the natural resources has not been achieved [1]. Some of the factors that have this achievement a nightmare is increased human population. Results The consequences of increase in human population on the environment are diverse. Some of these consequences have been associated with land fragmentation, soil degradation, air pollution, pressure on water resources, and alteration of earth’s climate among others. Harte (2007) recorded that environmental degradation grows in proportion to population size, assuming fixed per capita consumption and fixed modes of production, is shown to be overly optimistic. It has been noted that increase in human population impacts negatively on the environment. Harte asserted that the impacts of human population increase on the environment can be reached using the equation such as: Environmental Impact = (Population size) X (per-capita affluence level) X (Impact from the Technologies used to achieve that level of per-capita affluence) This implies that apart from impacts that result from direct human activities, the technology adopted in achieving the per-capita affluence also impacts the environment. For instance, the fishing methodology like use of chemicals targeting fish impacts on other aquatic organisms. The fish might also die indiscriminately as a result of the chemical sprayed on water. Similarly, water quality is also degraded by such technology. Human population continues to increase annually and the challenges it poses on the environment will be Int J Environ Sci Nat Res 13(4): IJESNR.MS.ID.555867 (2018) 0098 Review Article Volume 13 Issue 4 - July 2018 DOI: 10.19080/IJESNR.2018.13.555867 Int J Environ Sci Nat Res Copyright © All rights are reserved by George Ouma Ochola Abstract Environmental management has been a global concern for various reasons. Environment has been perceived to provide support not only to human but to other organisms as well. It forms habitat for various organisms and through support of vegetation growth ecological functions such as recharge of atmospheric moisture is realized. The ecosystems such as forests, wetlands and water play a vital role in waste assimilation. Forests act as carbon sinks and also contribute to air purification. They are also habitat for wild organisms like birds, snakes and other animals. On the other hand, wetland ecosystem offer protection services for instance the buffer zone between open water and land that regulates and protects the water from being contaminated hence pollution abatement. They also moderate climate as they contribute to the atmospheric moisture recharge. Other services offered by the wetland ecosystems include storm water abatement, provides habitats and refugia for animal and plant communities flood control, improve water quality, nutrient retention and /or recycling. Increased human population has greatly affected the environment and especially these natural resources which support both human and other life forms. Rapid population growth especially in a developing country like Kenya has put pressure on the available resources like water, forests and land in general. Increased population translates to increased demand for food and space for settlement. As a result, people engage in intensive agriculture with application of inorganic fertilizers that affect the environment negatively. They also encroach the protected areas like the Mau forest in Kenya that consequently lead to resource use conflict between the communities and the government. Population growth also lead to over exploitation of resources like forests, fish, minerals and even water. This study sought to review the impacts of population growth and the dilemma it causes on natural resources. Keywords: Kenya; Natural Resources; Environment; Impacts; Population Growth