Habitat : Human settlements and environmental health

Man is basically an intruder in natural landscape. Unpiece dented population growth, unplanned industrialization, unregulated urbanization have brought the man-made and natural environments. into conflict to such a degree that not only is sound economic and social development unangered, but also the physical, social, aesthetic and spiritual well-being of man is jeopardized. It is within these human settlements-hamlet, village, town, city, conurbation or megalopolis-that the quality of man's environment matters most.

Human development is influenced by the rapid changes that are taking place in human setting. Modern technology, industriali station, the expansion of cities, immigration, and population growth result in many ecological, social and biological changes. These changes are not confined to the developed countries, in fact they are relatively far more rapid and occur in far more difficult situation in developing countries. The demographic transition, is the most dramatic example. Rapidly falling death rates and persisting high natality rates influence in family and the community profoundly, and directly affect plans for the provision of resources for optimum development.