Environmental Studies

UNIT – I

Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies: Definition, Scope and Importance – Sustainability: Stockholm and Rio Summit–Global Environmental Challenges: Global warming and climate change, Carbon Credits, acid rains, ozone layer depletion, population growth and explosion, effects. Role of information Technology in Environment and human health.

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 Forest ecosystem, Grassland ecosystem, Desert ecosystem, Aquatic ecosystems.

UNIT – II

Natural Resources: Natural resources and associated problems Forest resources – Use and over – exploitation, deforestation – Timber extraction – Mining, dams and other 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, Sustainable mining of Granite, Literate, Coal, Sea and River sands. Food resources: World food problems, changes caused by non-agriculture activities-effects of modern agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging, salinity Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy sources use of alternate energy sources Vs Oil and Natural Gas Extraction. Land resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, Wasteland reclamation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification. Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources. Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles.

UNIT – III

Biodiversity and its conservation:

Definition: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity- classification - Value of biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use, social-Biodiversity at national and local levels. India as a mega-diversity nation - Hot-spots of biodiversity - Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, man- wildlife conflicts - Endangered and endemic species of India – Conservation of biodiversity: conservation of biodiversity.

UNIT – IV

Environmental Pollution: Definition, Cause, effects and control measures of Air pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution, Noise pollution, Nuclear hazards. Role of an individual in prevention of pollution. - Pollution case studies, Sustainable Life Studies. Impact of Fire Crackers on Men and his well being.

Solid Waste Management: Sources, Classification, effects and control measures of urban and industrial solid wastes. Consumerism and waste products, Biomedical, Hazardous and e – waste management.

UNIT – V

Social Issues and the Environment: Urban problems related to energy -Water conservation, rain water harvesting-Resettlement and rehabilitation of people; its problems and concerns. Environmental ethics: Issues and possible solutions. Environmental 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 environmental legislation. -Public awareness.

UNIT – VI

Environmental Management: Impact Assessment and its significance various stages of EIA, preparation of EMP and EIS, Environmental audit. Ecotourism, Green Campus – Green business and Green politics.

The student should Visit an Industry / Ecosystem and submit a report individually on any issues related to Environmental Studies course and make a power point presentation.