A paper published on May 1st in Nature suggests that frequent disruptions in human societies can enhance the population's ability to withstand harm and recover from subsequent declines.
Analyzing 30,000 years of human history, this study offers insights into future population growth and recovery, as well as the development of resilience in contemporary societies.
Resilience, the capacity to withstand crises and bounce back, is crucial for the well-being and survival of all human societies. While much research focuses on resilience in modern times, there is limited study on factors supporting long-term resilience.
To address this gap, Philip Riris and colleagues from Bournemouth University in the UK quantified resilience patterns of prehistoric populations to environmental or cultural disruptions.
Their meta-analysis spanned 30,000 years and gathered data from 16 global locations. They found that increased frequency of declines enhanced populations' ability to withstand and recover from disruptions.
Scientists highlight that this effect is strongly modulated by land-use patterns: agricultural and pastoral societies are more susceptible to population decline crises, but they also exhibit overall greater resilience.
This study parallels ecology, which suggests that frequent natural disturbances enhance the long-term resilience of critical ecosystem services.
Furthermore, scientists suggest that long-term human population growth may be sustained, at least in part, through a feedback loop of vulnerability, resistance, and resilience.
For more information, refer to the paper: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07354-8
