Environmental Studies

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Module 1 : 

Natural Resources:          Renewable and non-renewable resources

Natural resources and associated problems.

a) Forest resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies. Timber

extraction, mining, dams and their effects on forest and tribal people.

b) Water resources: Use and over-utilization of surface and groundwater, floods,

drought conflicts over water, dams-benefits, and problems.

c) Mineral resources: Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and

using mineral resources, case studies.

d) Food resources: World food problems, changes caused by agriculture and

overgrazing, effects of modern agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging,

salinity, case studies.

e) Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and nonrenewable energy

sources, use of alternate energy sources. Case studies.

f) 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.

•

Module 2 : 

Ecosystems

Concept of an ecosystem. Structure and function of an ecosystem.

Food chains, food webs, and ecological pyramids. Introduction, types, characteristic features,

structure and function of the following ecosystems:

a. Forest ecosystem

b. Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries)

Module 3 : 

Biodiversity and its conservation

• Introduction – Definition: genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.

• 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

•

Module 4 : 

Social Issues and the Environment

• From Unsustainable to Sustainable development

• Resettlement and rehabilitation of people; its problems and concerns.

• Environmental ethics: Issues and possible solutions.

• Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents, and the holocaust. Case Studies.

• Public awareness.

*ACTIVITIES

Nature club (bird watching, recognizing plants at the institute/at home, recognizing local

animals, appreciating biodiversity

Impart knowledge and inculcate the habit of taking interest and understanding biodiversity in

and around the college campus. The students should be encouraged to take interest in bird

watching, recognizing local plants, herbs, and local animals. The students should be

encouraged to appreciate the difference in the local biodiversity in their hometown, in the

place of their study, and other places they visit for vacation/breaks, etc.

Following activities must be included.

Identify a tree fruit flower peculiar to a place or having origin from the place.

Making high-resolution big photographs of small creatures (bees, spiders, ants. mosquitos

etc.) especially the part of the body so that people can recognize (games on recognizing

animals/plants).

Videography/ photography/ information collections on specialties/unique features of different

types of common creatures.

Search and explore patents and rights related to animals, trees, etc. Studying miracles of

mechanisms of different body systems.

1(A) Awareness Activities:

a) Small group meetings about water management, promotion of recycling use, generation

of less waste, avoiding electricity waste

b) Slogan making event

c) Poster making the event

d) Cycle rally

e) Lectures from experts

f) Plantation

g) Gifting a tree to see its full growth

h) Cleanliness drive

i) Drive for segregation of waste

i) To live with some eminent environmentalist for a week or so to understand his work

vi) To work in the kitchen garden for the mess

j) To know about the different varieties of plants

k) Shutting down the fans and ACs of the campus for an hour or so

l) Visit a local area to document environmental assets

river/forest/grassland/hill/mountain/lake/Estuary/Wetlands

m) Visit to a local polluted site-Urban/Rural/Industrial/Agricultural n)

Visit a Wildlife sanctuary, National Park or Biosphere Reserve

Suggested Readings

1. Agarwal, K.C. 2001 Environmental Biology, Nidi Publ. Ltd. Bikaner.

2. BharuchaErach, The Biodiversity of India, Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad –

380 013, India, Email:mapin@icenet.net (R)

3. Brunner R.C., 1989, Hazardous Waste Incineration, McGraw Hill Inc. 480p

4. Clark R.S., Marine Pollution, Clanderson Press Oxford (TB)

5. Cunningham, W.P. Cooper, T.H. Gorhani, E & Hepworth, M.T. 2001, Environmental

Encyclopedia, Jaico Publ. House, Mumbai, 1196p

6. Hawkins R.E., Encyclopedia of Indian Natural History, Bombay Natural History

Society, Bombay (R)

7. Heywood, V.H &Waston, R.T. 1995. Global Biodiversity Assessment. Cambridge

Univ. Press 1140p.

8. Mhaskar A.K., Matter Hazardous, Techno-Science Publication (TB)

9. Miller T.G. Jr. Environmental Science, Wadsworth Publishing Co. (TB)

10. Odum, E.P. 1971. Fundamentals of Ecology. W.B. Saunders Co. USA, 574p

11. Townsend C., Harper J, and Michael Begon, Essentials of Ecology, Blackwell

Science (TB)

12. Trivedi R.K., Handbook of Environmental Laws, Rules Guidelines, Compliances and

Standard, Vol I and II, Enviro Media (R)

13. Trivedi R. K. and P.K. Goel, Introduction to air pollution, Techno-Science

Publication (TB)

14. Wanger K.D., 1998 Environmental Management. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia,

USA 499p