Environmental Studies (AHT-004)

About Course

Course Objectives:

The aim of E.V.S. (environmental studies) is to develop a world population that is aware of and concerned about the environment and its associated problems and which has the knowledge ,Skills, attitudes ,motivations and commitment to work individually and collectively towards solutions of current problems and prevention of new ones. In view of this aim, environmental studies should form an integral part of the educational process, be centered in practical problems and be of an interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary character.

OBJECTIVES of Environmental Studies Subject

· Awareness: To help social groups and individuals acquire awareness of and sensitively to the total environment and it’s allied problems.
· Knowledge: To help social groups and individuals gain a variety of experiences and acquire a basic understanding of environment and it’s associated problems. Attitudes: To help social groups and individuals acquire a set of values and feelings of concern for environment.

 Skills: To help the individuals in acquiring skills for identifying and solving environmental problems. Participation: To provide social groups and individuals with an opportunity to be actively involved at all levels in working towards the resolution of environmental problems.

Syllabus

Unit I – Introduction:
Introduction to environmental studies, Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies; Scope and importance; the need for environmental education. Concept of sustainability and sustainable development.
Natural Resources:

• Renewable and non-renewable resources: Natural resources and associated problems.
• Forest resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies. Timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects on forest and tribal people.
• Water resources : Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams-benefits and problems.
• Mineral resources : Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources, case studies.
• Food resources : World food problems, changes caused by agriculture and overgrazing, effects of modern agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging, salinity, case studies.
• Energy resources : Growing energy needs, renewable and non renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources. Case studies.
• Land resources : Land as a resource, land degradation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification.
• Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources.
• Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles.

Unit II :Ecosystems:
· Concept of an ecosystem.

• Structure and function of an ecosystem.
• Producers, consumers and decomposers.
• Energy flow in the ecosystem.
• Ecological succession.
• Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids.

· Introduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of the following ecosystem:-

• • Forest ecosystem
  • Grassland ecosystem
  • Desert ecosystem
  • Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries)

Unit III: Biodiversity and Conservation

• Introduction – Definition : genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.
• Biogeographically classification of India
• Value of biodiversity : consumptive use, productive use, social,ethical, aesthetic and option values
• Biodiversity at global, National and local levels.
• India as a mega-diversity nation
• Hot-sports of biodiversity.
• Threats to biodiversity : habitat loss, poaching of wildlife,man-wildlife conflicts.
• Endangered and endemic species of India
• Conservation of biodiversity : In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.

Unit IV: Environmental Pollution

Definition
• Cause, effects and control measures of:-
  • Air pollution
  • Water pollution
  • Soil pollution
  • Marine pollution
  • Noise pollution
  • Thermal pollution
  • Nuclear hazards
• Solid waste Management : Causes, effects and control measures of urban and industrial wastes.
• Role of an individual in prevention of pollution.
• Pollution casestudies.
• Disaster management : floods, earthquake, cyclone andlandslides.

UNIT V – Social Issues and the Environment

• • •  From Unsustainable to Sustainable development
    • Urban problems related to energy
    •  Water conservation, rain water harvesting, water shed management
    •  Resettlement and rehabilitation of people; its problems and concerns. Case Studies
    •  Environmental ethics: Issues and possible solutions.
    •  Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents and holocaust. Case Studies.
    • Waste land reclamation.
    •  Consumerism and waste products.
    •  Environment Protection Act.
    •  Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)Act.
    •  Water (Prevention and control of Pollution)Act
    •  Wildlife Protection Act
    •  Forest Conservation Act
    •  Issues involved in enforcement of environment allegislation.
    •  Public awareness.

UNIT VI – Human Population and the Environment

• Population growth, variation among nations.
• Population explosion – Family Welfare Programme.
• Environment and human health.
• Human Rights.
• Value Education.
• HIV/AIDS.
• Women and Child Welfare.
• Role of Information Technology in Environment and human health.
• Case Studies.

Global Environmental Issues and Environmental Laws

Pollution Tragedies: Love canal, Bhopal Gas, Endosulfan, Minamata and Flint water. UN
Initiatives and International agreements: Montreal and Kyoto protocols, Paris Climate Summit
(2015) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Environment Laws: Environment
Protection Act (1986); Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act (1981); Forest Conservation Act (1980); Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act (1974); Wildlife
Protection Act (1972).