ABSTRACT
Population growth during the past 50 years has made it difficult to set aside and conserve natural areas. Another half-century of growth will put even more pressure on protected areas as formerly small, distant settlements encroach on these sites and as the number of people who use the sites explode. In an urbanizing world, some sites provide an opportunity for healthy interaction with the natural environment, as well as rare serenity. In nations where rapid population growth has outstripped the carrying capacity of local resources, natural areas become especially vulnerable. People who use Central Park in New York City, which has nearly doubled in population since 1950, are faced with growing congestion and restrictions on activities. Longer waiting lists and higher user fees for fewer secluded spots are likely the tip of the iceberg, as population growth threatens to eliminate the diversity of habitats and cultures, in addition to the peace and quiet, that protected areas currently house.
