A new study published in Nature has shown that the ability of populations to resist and recover from frequent disturbances enhances their resilience. The research, which analyzed 30,000 years of human history, has important implications for future population growth and resilience-building initiatives.
The study by Philip Riris and colleagues quantified patterns of prehistoric population resistance to disturbances across 16 locations worldwide over a 30,000-year period. They found that frequent downturns increase the ability of populations to withstand and recover from disturbances. This effect is influenced by land-use patterns, with farming and herding societies being more vulnerable to crises but also more resilient overall.
The authors suggest that humanity’s long-term population growth may have been sustained by positive feedback cycles of vulnerability, resistance, and recovery. The study highlights the importance of resilience in shaping human societies throughout history and has implications for future population growth and resilience-building strategies.
Resilience is critical for societies to withstand and recover from crises. While much research has focused on present-day resilience, factors that contribute to long-term resilience have been less studied. To address this gap, Philip Riris and colleagues analyzed patterns of prehistoric population resistance to disturbances over a 30,000-year period at 16 locations worldwide.
Their findings show that frequent downturns increase the ability of populations to withstand and recover from disturbances. This effect is influenced by land-use patterns, with farming and herding societies being more vulnerable to crises but also more resilient overall. The study draws parallels with ecology, where natural disturbances are believed to enhance the long-term resilience of ecosystems.
The authors suggest that humanity’s long-term population growth may have been sustained by positive feedback cycles of vulnerability, resistance, and recovery. This study sheds light on the importance of resilience in shaping human societies throughout history and has implications for future population growth and resilience-building strategies.
In conclusion, the ability of populations to resist and recover from frequent disturbances enhances their resilience according to a new study published in Nature. The research analyzes 30,000 years of human history at 16 locations worldwide to quantify patterns of prehistoric population resistance to disturbances over a 30,000 year period.
The findings reveal that frequent downturns increase the ability of populations to withstand and recover from disturbances influenced by land use patterns such as farming or herding societies being more vulnerable but also more resilient overall.
The authors suggest that humanity’s long term population growth may have been sustained through positive feedback cycles
